Established 1996
 
 

 

NEPSGIHA 2017-18 All-NEPSAC Teams

 
Division I

Player of the Year
Kelly Browne — Tabor Academy — #3 — 2018

All-NEPSAC First Team

Forwards
Kelly Browne — Tabor Academy — #3 — 2018
Gillis Frechette — St. Paul's School — #9 — 2018
Julia Nearis — Kent School — #16 — 2019
Savannah Norcross — New Hampton School — #17 — 2018
Jessica Schryver — Loomis Chaffee School — #10 — 2019
Katie Tresca — Noble and Greenough School — #4 — 2018
Charlotte Welch — Phillips Academy Andover — #14 — 2018

Defense
Lauren DeBlois — New Hampton School — #7 — 2019
Lily Farden — Noble and Greenough School — #11 — 2019
Jillian Fey — Tabor Academy — #7 — 2018
Tori Palumbo — Williston Northampton School — #2 — 2018

Goaltenders
Sidney Molnar — Taft School — #30 — 2018
Lindsay Reed — Hotchkiss School — #29 — 2018


All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Team

Forwards
Melissa Alexander — Northfield Mount Hermon School — #8 — 2018
Olivia Finocchiaro — Tabor Academy — #19 — 2018
Molly Griffin — Buckingham Browne & Nichols School — #8 — 2020
Gabby Jones — Williston Northampton School — #16 — 2018
Corinne McCool — Lawrence Academy — #24 — 2018

Defense
Mia Biotti — Buckingham Browne & Nichols School — #19 — 2021
Claire Dudley — Milton Academy — #10 — 2018
Elizabeth Holubiak — Phillips Academy Andover — #15 — 2018
Claudia Vira — Taft School — #16 — 2018
Steph Voge — Northfield Mount Hermon School — #12 — 2018

Goaltenders
Emme Ostrander --- Pomfret School --- #30 --- 2018
Kelly Pickreign --- Noble & Greenough --- #35 -- 2018


Division II

Player of the Year
Caroline Kukas — Brooks School — #1 — 2019

All-NEPSAC First Team

Forwards
Chloe Aurard — Vermont Academy — #12 — 2018
Mia Brown — Kimball Union Academy — #10 — 2018
Kristyna Kaltounkova — Vermont Academy — 2020
Jenna Letterie — Rivers School — #11 — 2018
Abbey Luth — Portsmouth Abbey School — #18 — 2018
Mickey Sindoris — Worcester Academy — #5 — 2018

Defense
Emma English — Brooks School — #7 — 2018
Tia Martignetti — Worcester Academy — #6 — 2018
Lotti Odnoga — Vermont Academy — #14 — 2018
Leslie Schwartz — Rivers School — #2 — 2019

Goaltenders
Meghan Gazard — Rivers School — #30 — 2018
Caroline Kukas — Brooks School — #1 — 2019

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention Team

Forwards
Eliza Beaudin — Hebron Academy — #4 — 2018
Ariella Haas — Canterbury School — #19 — 2018
Mackenzie Mallett — Proctor Academy — #13 — 2018
Morgan Mordini — Worcester Academy — #9 — 2018
Neomi Neubauerova — The Gunnery — #21 — 2018
Grace Schulze — Greenwich Academy — #6 — 2020
Maddy Tregenza — St. George's School — #20 — 2018

Defense
Madi Aumann — St. George's School — #3 — 2019
Caroline Cutter — Brooks School — #10 — 2019
Molly Flanagan — Kimball Union Academy — #9 — 2019
Kiara Vazquez — Proctor Academy — #8 — 2018

Goaltenders
Courtney Denaut — Greenwich Academy — #35 — 2018
Marina Mirabella — Proctor Academy — #30 — 2019



 

Nobles Wins Div. I Title
-- Pickreign Shuts Down Williston, Named MVP


Worcester, Mass.
– Nobles captured its third Div. I championship in six years with a 2-0 victory over a gritty, speedy Williston team today at the Worcester Ice Center.

All season, the Bulldogs strong suit has been solid defensive play and strong goaltending, and today was no different as Nobles senior goaltender and tournament MVP Kelly Pickreign posted the shutout, the team's 11th of the season.

On the offensive side of things, Nobles senior Lily Farden was the difference, scoring the game-winning goal on a power play snipe from the top of the circle at 3:45 of the second period. 

Both teams came out strong in the first period, but neither established any control in their respective offensive zones and scoring opportunities were few. Williston freshman Christina Vote was whistled for interference four minutes into the game, but Nobles' power play was unable to get anything going. Williston goalie Danielle Marquez saw only one or two shots and handled them easily during the penalty kill. Williston’s power play got its chance when Nobles freshman Ellie Bayard was called for a high stick with seven minutes remaining in the period. We were surprised it was just a minor. It may have been our angle on the play, but it looked like an intentional stick whack to the head of a Williston player. Williston’s power play, like that of Nobles, was not able to create any solid zone time or chances during its advantage. Pickreign only faced three or four tough shots during the period and handled them all easily.

Nobles broke the 0-0 deadlock with a second period power play goal from Farden. It is worth noting that Williston was on the power play and took a lazy penalty that made it 4-on-4 for a handful of seconds before turning it into a power play for Nobles. Williston attempted what looked to be a pass to a player for a breakaway down-ice, but Farden was on the blue line to stop the clear with her stick. Williston was caught back with odd numbers and Farden took advantage by skating in between the top of the circles and launching a wrist shot by the screened Williston goalie. Williston responded with their signature speed and work ethic for the remainder of the period. A terrific individual effort by freshman Christina Vote almost evened the game with a minute remaining, but a Nobles defender was able to make sure the puck didn’t cross the goal line. Williston was clearly the team in control for the better part of the period, but Farden’s power play goal kept Nobles ahead 1-0 heading into the final period of play. 

In the third, Williston dug itself a hole. The teams were fairly even in 5-on-5 hockey, but Williston never gave themselves that opportunity in the latter stages of the period. First, Williston went to the box with eight minutes to play on a tripping call. Just under a minute and a half later, when the penalty was about to expire, a Williston player left the bench to make it 5-on-5 before the penalty had expired. The refs called too many skaters on the ice. On the penalty kill, Williston freshman standout Christina Vote found herself on a breakaway, but Katie Tresca of Nobles took a good penalty to deny her a scoring opportunity. On the ensuing 4-on-4 play, Nobles sophomore Maeve Connolly put a weak backhand shot on net that trickled under Marquez to give Nobles the 2-0 lead. Williston had a chance in the final minute of a power play to bring the game to within one, but could not convert.

After the game, the general consensus from the Williston bench was that it was a tough one to lose. But our long view sees a team that fought to get into the playoffs and proved they deserved to be there with a remarkable playoff run. They have much to be proud of.

As for Nobles, this was like many of its wins this season. Somehow, someway they just managed to win. And that’s what championship teams do.

Nobles & Greenough 2, Williston Northampton 0
Box Score

Period 1:
No scoring

Period 2:
Nobles -- Lily Farden (Katie Tresca) 3:45

Period 3:
Nobles -- Maeve Connolly (unassisted) 6:03

 

 

Vermont Wins Div. II Championship

-- Aurard, Kaltounkova Too Much for Rivers

Worcester, Mass.
– Vermont Academy, led by Chloe Aurard (2g,1a) and Kristyna Kaltounkova (3g,2a), captured its first-ever NEPSAC Div. II Championship with a 5-2 win over Rivers here today.

Aurard was named tournament MVP.

And the fans got an entertaining final.

From the start, there was no shortage of back-and-forth hockey. Rivers appeared, at least for a second, to have struck for a goal just three minutes in, as a net-front scramble off of a high deflection led to a Rivers forward swatting the puck in with her glove -- from above the crossbar. No goal, no argument. Meanwhile, Vermont’s top  line of Aurard, Kaltounkova, and Jazmyn Creamer were busy providing multiple scoring opportunities for the Wildcats. Both teams had chances on the power play, but neither could cash in. And Meghan Gazard, Rivers' senior goaltender, was the standout of the period, keeping Vermont off the board.

The second period started off with some feistiness as, just minutes in, a cluster of Vermont players ran a Rivers player hard into the boards between the benches. It looked to us like a penalty, but the referees saw it another way, and the Rivers player was helped off the ice. Just three minutes later, Vermont went up 1-0 on a skillful individual effort by Aurard. Given time and space behind the net, Aurard attempted a wrap-around shot, which produced a rebound, which she stuffed in the back of the net. With the lead, Vermont kept attacking the Rivers' zone, and eventually, four minutes later, doubled its lead on another great individual effort by Aurard, who made space on the ice for her pass to Kaltounkova in the slot. The sophomore's one-timer put the Wildcats ahead 2-0 with 6:58 to play in the second. Rivers, though, was unwilling to let up and, one minute after the Vermont goal, Rivers junior Kaitlin Shaughnessy skated into the Vermont zone down the right side, made a dangle around a Wildcat defender and roofed a shot on Vermont PG goalie Blanka Skodova to bring the score back within one. Rivers maintained control for much of the remainder of the first. And it was anybody’s game to win heading into the final period.

In the third, it took a little over a minute for Kaltounkova to put the Wildcats back up by two with a wrap-around goal. And it did not take long for Rivers to answer, as senior Kasey Cunningham cut it to 3-2 with 10:30 remaining. However, any idea of a Rivers comeback was dampened 24 seconds later when Aurard, with speed, scored a breakaway goal to up Vermont's lead to 4-2. At that point, Rivers threw everything they had at Vermont, but PG goalie Blanka Skodova stood her ground. Kaltounkova capped her hat trick with an empty-netter in the final minute.

After the game we had the opportunity to speak to Lisa Marshall, the Wildcats' first-year head coach. Marshall was grateful and proud of her team’s performance, and could not say enough good things about her squad.  A prep school product herself (Phillips Exeter), Marshall brought in some top-flight players and turned a team that finished 7-19-2 a year ago all the way to a NEPSAC Div. II Championship this season.

Vermont Academy 5, Rivers 2
Box Score

Period 1:
No scoring.

Period 2:
VA -- Chloe Aurard (Kristyna Kaltounkova) 12:43 remaining
VA -- Kaltounkova (Sydney Royce) 6:56
Rivers -- Kaitlin Shaughnessy (Camille Phelan, Kaitlyn Nadeau)

Period 3:
VA -- Kaltounkova (Aurard, Jordan Loya) 14:54 
Rivers -- Kasey Cunningham (Phelan, Emily Smith) 10:30
VA -- Aurard (Kaltounkova, Klara Jandusikova) 10:04
VA -- Kaltounkova (Holly Meredith, Aurard) :20 ENG

 

Around the Rinks

Senior G Kelly Pickreign finishes her Nobles' career  with a 103-9-7 record, 46 shutouts, a 0.92 GAA and a .955 save percentage.
Senior G Kelly Pickreign finishes her Nobles' career with a 103-9-7 record, 46 shutouts, a 0.92 GAA and a .955 save percentage. (Photo: Dave Arnold Photography)
 
Vermont Academy's captains show off their well-deserved hardware.
Vermont Academy's captains show off their well-deserved hardware.
 
The Nobles captains -- Katie Tresca, Abby Volo, Steph Nomicos, and Kelly Pickreign -- celebrate their 2018 NEPSAC Div. I championship.
The Nobles captains -- Katie Tresca, Abby Volo, Steph Nomicos, and Kelly Pickreign -- celebrate their 2018 NEPSAC Div. I championship.