The Hall/Conard girls hockey team hosted the Suffield Co-op Monday at Veterans Memorial Rink in West Hartford.

Hall/Conard’s Grace Ganey pursues the puck against Suffield Co-op. Hall/Conard vs. Suffield hockey. Feb. 15, 2021. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

By Paul Palmer

For two periods on Monday, the Hall/Conard girls varsity hockey team rode the scoring of Bridget McGann to what looked like their second win of the season. But then the third period came along, and Suffield Co-op scored three times for the 4-3 come-from-behind win.

McGann, a junior forward, came into the contest having scored five goals in the Warchiefs’ first two games and it did not take her long to find the net in this one to take Hall/Conard to an early 1-0 lead. The goal seemed to wake-up Suffield, as the Wildcats turned on their offensive game and nearly scored when they hit the post before the end of the first period.

Suffield came out strong in the second period, but a penalty less than two minutes in put Hall/Conard on the power play. With just :09 seconds left in the advantage, it was McGann scoring again – going glove-side high with the assist from Annie Woods.

Five minutes later, the combination of Woods-to-McGann would strike again and the Warchiefs were cruising with a 3-0 lead. But Suffield was about to turn things around when a minute later Konelin Wierdsma would score on the wrap-around to cut the deficit to 2.

“The most dangerous lead to have is 3-1,” Warchiefs head coach Brett Soucy said after the game. “A fourth goal by us would have put them away.”

In the third period, Suffield came out skating and firing, and heavy zone pressure lead to their second goal when Sophia Blais scored through traffic to cut the Hall/Conard lead to 1. Just 1:26 later, it was the Wildcats’ Brianna Morden tying things up as she beat Warchiefs goalie Sofia Levesque (31 shots, 27 saves).  

Moments later, McGann had her bid for a fourth tally stopped by goalie Tegan Mabrysmith, and Suffield would put home the game winner when Morden found the net with a long-range wrist shot that eluded Levesque.

Of Suffield’s third period, Soucy said, “They picked their game up and everything happens faster, and they opened up the slot area for shots.”

McGann now has a pair of hat tricks and a two-goal game this season for Hall/Conard, which will host Simsbury at Veterans Memorial Rink on Thursday.

Sofia Levvesque gets help clearing a rebound vs. Suffield Co-op. Hall/Conard vs. Suffield hockey. Feb. 15, 2021. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Hall/Conard’s Bridget McGann is stopped late in the third period of a tied game with Suffield Co-op on Monday. Hall/Conard vs. Suffield hockey. Feb. 15, 2021. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Hall/Conard’s Bridget McGann avoids the broken stick as she goes to her backhand against Suffield Co-op. Hall/Conard vs. Suffield hockey. Feb. 15, 2021. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Hall/Conard’s Gracie Cho fends off a pair of Suffield defenders. Hall/Conard vs. Suffield hockey. Feb. 15, 2021. Photo credit: Paul Palmer

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford! Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism.