EASTHAMPTON — Heartbreak and shock was the prevailing feeling as the No. 1 seeded Williston girls hockey team was upset by No. 8 Loomis Chaffee, 3-1, at Lossone Rink Wednesday afternoon.
The loss was the team’s first since Dec. 15. The Wildcats finished 22-2-2 following the setback in the first round of the NEPSAC Division 1 Tournament.
“They’re heartbroken,” Williston coach Christa Talbot Syfu said. “We played really hard and fought to the final buzzer.”
Things got off to a shaky start for the Wildcats when Loomis Chaffee nearly took a loose puck from the opening faceoff in for a goal.
Williston settled in, and possibly even controlled the action in what was a balanced first half of the opening period. Wildcats goalie Natalie Stott made a glove save to stop Loomis Chaffee from scoring first momentarily. Moments later, after nearly converting a diving jab at the net, the Wildcats couldn’t get back in transition to stop the Pelicans from scoring the first goal with just under seven minutes left in the period.
The Wildcats had a chance to recover with a power play, but Loomis Chaffee was able to kill the advantage and even get a shot on goal of its own. Back at full strength, Jenna Donohue of Loomis Chaffee sent a bouncing puck at the net that hopped over Stott to give the Pelicans a two-goal edge in the first period.
Although Williston dominated possession in the second period, it still was unable to break through. It wasn’t without plenty of opportunities, especially in the final four minutes of the period. Loomis Chaffee goalie Elinor Keehn stopped one of the two-on-one breakaway opportunities and the Wildcats’ other chance to put the puck in off a ricochet rebound was cleared down the ice before they could convert.
As hope for a comeback seemed to be fading in the third period, senior Kate Holmes knocked in a goal to cut the lead to 2-1 with just under seven minutes to go. Holmes’ goal was the culmination of a series of shots in the preceding minutes that had seemed to flip the momentum in the Williston’s favor.
With just over two minutes to go the Wildcats were preparing to pull their goalie to make a final push for the tying goal, but before they could, the Pelicans stole possession and sealed the game with a goal of their own with two minutes left.
Jenna Donohue, Avery Flynn and Madeleine Hong each scored for the Pelicans in the win. Loomis Chaffee will now go on to face Kent School in semifinals on Saturday. No. 5 Kent beat No. 4 St. Paul’s School 5-0 on Wednesday.
Williston 64, Choate 48 — The second-seeded Wildcats jumped out to a 31-17 lead en route to a quarterfinal round victory in the NEPSAC Class A Tournament in Easthampton.
Tyler Thomas led Williston with 23 points and eight rebounds. Andre Washington and Nik Kovacevic each had 10 points.
John Kelly added seven points and nine rebounds.
The Wildcats will host Hotchkiss on Saturday in the semifinals.
Lawrence 50, Williston 39 — The seventh-seeded Wildcats rallied within six points late, but the hosts made their foul shots to advance to the NEPSAC Class B Tournament semifinals.
Senior Sarah Sullivan finished with 14 points. Jordyn Meunier added 11, while Emma Gentile and Selena Negron each had five points.