Game #1: Girls 16 White – 4, Girls 16 Blue – 1

Just one week after their Spring Festival, the Girls HP 16 were back in action at the Final 54 Festival. The first game of the weekend featured the Blue and White teams in an early morning tilt. Both teams showed they were awake and ready to play as they traded goals in first six minutes and combined for all five of the game’s goals in the first half. The second half proved to be a netminder showdown as neither Calla Frank (16 saves) nor Alexa Dobchuk (18 saves) allowed a goal.  Alyson Niebur scored twice, including the game winning goal, and Ramsey Parent had three assists to lead White to an opening 4-1 win at the festival.

Game #2: Girls 17 Red – 3, Girls 17 White – 1

The Girls 17 Red team came out firing in their first game of the Final 54 Festival as they blasted 17 shots on the White team in the first half. Katie Huntington and Lydia Passolt capitalized on the barrage of scoring chances to give Red a 2-0 lead after one period. Half way through the second, Sarah Levitt connected with Catherine Skaja to pull White within striking distance. However, Taylor Wente added an insurance goal with less than six minutes remaining to secure a 3-1 win for Red.

Game #3: Girls 16 White – 3, Girls 16 Red – 2

The third game of the day proved to be a back and forth battle between two even teams.  Red controlled most of the first 15 minutes of play, but it was White that would open the scoring. Madison Bizal set up Eleanor Moser to give White a 1-0 lead. Red would get on the board later in the half though as Lolita Fidler tallied two goals to make the score 2-1 in favor of Red heading to the intermission. White would make a surge in the second half as Aliyah Lance scored the equalizer and then Kelsey King scored the deciding goal as White went onto a 3-2 win.

Game #4: Girls 17 Blue – 3 (SO), Girls 17 White – 2

Few things are as exciting and intense as overtime hockey. And the same could certainly be said for a shootout. That was the recipe for the afternoon Girls HP 17 showdown between Blue and White.  Gabrielle Hughes got Blue off to a fast start as she tallied the games first two goals in the first seven minutes of play. White pushed back hard though and was able to pull within one late in the first half as Joie Phelps connected with Catherine Skaja to make it 2-1.  They were able to carry that momentum into the second half too as they peppered Blue with 14 shots.  Blue goaltender Breanna Blesi was able to fend them off until Sarah Levitt scored the tying goal for White with just 30 seconds left on clock.  Levitt’s goal would end up sending the game to overtime where Blue regained control of the game, out-shooting White 5-1 in the frame.  They weren’t able to solve Coco Francis though and overtime ended with the score still 2-2.  After three misses to start the shootout, McKenna Wesloh buried a goal for Blue and sealed a 3-2 win. 

Game #5: Girls 16 Blue - 5, Girls 16 Red - 4

The final Girls 16 game of day one proved to be a great seesaw battle. Sadie Peart gave Blue a 1-0 less than a minute into the game and Mackenzie Rugland extended their lead to 2-0 on a feed from Haylee Blinkhorn. Red would respond with two of their own later in the period as Grace Heiting scored unassisted and then set up Margaret Flaherty to make it 2-2. The excitement was far from over though as Sophia Leong and Taylor Stewart traded tallies for their respective teams to make it 3-3 headed to intermission. In the second half, Blue jumped out in front once again on a power play marker by Madigan Goldsworthy, but less than a minute later, Reily Springman answered the call for Red and tied it up at 4-4. Neither team was able to close it out in overtime so they headed to a shootout, where Blue claimed a 5-4 win in the fifth round of shooters.

Game #6: Girls 17 Red - 3, Girls 17 Blue - 0

In a battle of two 1-0 teams, Red was able to turn a strong first half into a 3-0 win. Red out shot Blue 14-9 in the first 24 minutes and Emily Oden scored the period's only goal. Blue came out with a better period in the second half, but it wasn't enough. Kenzie Wylie set up goals by Katie Huntington and Elly Strunk less than two minutes apart to lengthen Red's lead to 3-0. Emma Polusny and Margaret Cory combined for 19 saves in the shutout.