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Kelsey Viani makes a save against Notre Dame-Fairfield, December 16, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

The Westies battle for control of the puck against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Alyssa Maddern takes a shot on goal against Branford, February 1, 2012. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Alyssa Woosley scores against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Morgan Maliff scores against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 


Julia Consorte against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Brittany Gould races for the puck against Branford, February 1, 2012. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Kelsey Viani makes a save against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 


Congratulations to Alyssa Maddern for being named to the All-SCC Second Team for the 2011-2012 season.

Silent Ending
Westies end season with second
straight home shutout loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 13, 2012) –
 The season has ended in quiet fashion for the West Haven girls’ hockey team. Falling to Hand-Madison Monday afternoon by a score of 7-0, the Westies ended the season with two straight home losses and finished 4-13 overall and 4-10 in the Southern Connecticut Conference. 
The Westies managed only 14 shots on goal and all were stopped by Tigers’ goaltender Amanda Pomeroy. West Haven goaltender Kelsey Viani stopped 28 shots, but was beaten three times each by Makenzie Hoetor and Kelly Eisele. 
Hoetor scored twice in the first period to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead before Eisele scored three times in the first 6 minutes, 32 seconds of the middle period for a 5-0 lead. Hoetor’s third goal of the game with 1:11 remaining in the period gave Hand a 6-0 lead. 
Grace Cummings set up Alex Rider with Hand’s final goal with 6:40 remaining in the game. 


Westies fall on Senior Day
Notre Dame’s D’Aurio posts shutout 
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
WEST HAVEN (February 11, 2012) – 
The West Haven girls’ hockey team suffered its third loss of the week and dropped to 4-12 overall and 4-9 in the Southern Connecticut Conference when the Westies fell to Notre Dame/Law/Foran 4-0 on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at the Bennett Rink.
The Westies had 32 shots on goal, many of which were quality scoring chances, but goaltender Jordan D’Aurio could not be beaten. D’Aurio made her best saves in the opening period when she denied a wrist shot by Molly Long from the slot, before stopping Julia Consorte with a pad save in close.
D’Aurio’s best saves of the opening period came off the sticks of Morgan Maliff and Alyssa Maddern. Maliff was denied in close with the Westies trailing 1-0. 
Notre Dame scored the only goal it would need when Mary Kate Vincenzi beat Kelsey Viani off an assist from Molly Verderame just 1 minute, 26 seconds into the contest. 
Verderame gave Notre Dame a 2-0  lead 1:18 into the middle period  before Verderame and Vincenzi assisted Katie Yellen with 29 seconds remaining in the middle period. 
The Lancers closed the scoring with 2:06 remaining in the game as Brook Benetti scored for the Lancers.  West Haven was stopped on all three power play opportunities. 
Viani made 14 saves in the loss.

 
Westies Fall
WH loses 8-1 against North Haven/Amity/Cheshire
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 8, 2012) –
 The North Haven/Amity/Cheshire girls’ hockey team got off to a quick start in Wednesday afternoon’s contest against West Haven and never looked back. Scoring five times in the opening period, North Haven/Amity/Cheshire defeated the Westies 8-1 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. 
The Westies had a hard time stopping Abbie Lange who scored three times and added an assist. Brittany Nuzzolo scored once and added two assists and Jordan Ruocco, Andrea Noss and Erin Hines each had a goal and an assist.    
Ruocco and Lange scored 1 minute, 23 seconds apart in the first period for a 2-0 North Haven/Amity/Cheshire lead. Lange increased the lead to 3-0 with 4:06 remaining in the opening period and Sarah Sokolowski made it 4-0 just 23 seconds later. Hines closed out the first period scoring with 1:05 remaining as West Haven trailed 5-0 after one period of play. Noss scored the only goal of the second period, putting West Haven in a 6-0 hole. 
The Westies finally got on the board in the third period when Julia Consorte and Molly Long set up Morgan Maliff with seven minutes remaining. Despite having 38 shots on goal, Maliff’s was the only shot to beat goaltender Abby Altschuler, who made 37 saves. 
Nuzzolo and Lange closed out the scoring 45 seconds apart in the third period. 
Josy Militrano took the loss as she made 15 saves.


Denied
Rally falls short against Staples/Trumbull
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 6, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team fell to 4-10 overall and 4-7 in the Southern Connecticut Conference with a 7-4 loss against Staples/Trumbull Monday evening in Shelton. 
The Westies trailed from the start and only got as close as 2-1 when Morgan Maliff scored in the first period. Staples/Trumbull led 5-2 after two and answered West Haven’s third period goal by Alyssa Maddern 54 seconds later to quiet any thoughts of a West Haven comeback. 
Linsey Furman gave Staples/Trumbull an early lead with a goal just 56 seconds into the game. The lead remained 1-0 until Rebecca Buck scored 6 minutes, 12 seconds into the contest. 
Maliff answered for West Haven with 4:58 remaining in the opening period, but goals by Katy Gonski and Stephanie D’Costanzo put West Haven in a 4-1 hole. Julia Consorte’s goal with 55 seconds brought West Haven within 4-2 but Gonski answered with the only goal of the second period to give Staples/Trumbull a 5-2 lead after two periods. 
West Haven tried to come back in the third period. Maliff and Consorte set up Alyssa Maddern 5:42 into the third but Buck’s second goal of the game iced the contest for Staples/ Trumbull. 
Jessie Lespisto increased the margin to 7-3 just 33 seconds later. West Haven closed the scoring with 42 seconds to go when Alyssa Woosley scored off an assist from Brittany Gould. 
Kelsey Viani made 29 saves. Staples/Trumbull held a 36-20 shot advantage.  


Indians shut out Westies
Molloy leads the way for Guilford
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(February 4, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team traveled to play Guilford Wednesday night. The night did not start well and did not end well either. 
The Indians scored three times in each of the first two periods and defeated the Westies 11-0 at the DiLungo Rink in East Haven. 
Nine Indians reached the scoring column, with Julianna Molloy leading the way with a goal and three assists. Katherine Rosadini and Kara Welch each added two goals and an assist for Guilford. 
Guilford jumped out to a 3-09 lead in the first period as Krystal Williams scored 3 minutes, 15 seconds into the game and Welch followed suit 1:29 later. Ali Putney’s goal with 4:30 remaining in the period gave Guilford a 3-0 lead. 
The Indians spread their goals out in the second period to a take a 6-0 lead. Mackenzie Cattaruzza scored 4:56 into the middle period, Tess Cianciolo scored 4:47 later and Rosadini capped the scoring in the period with 1:40 left. 
Guilford closed out the game with five goals in the final period. Cattaruzza opened the scoring 1:56 into the period, Welch followed 5:09 later and Molloy made the score 9-0 with 4:04 remaining. Goals by Rosadini and Cianciolo in the final 3:44 capped the scoring. 
Kelsey Viani made 26 saves in the loss as West Haven was outshot 37-20. 


Rally Time
Goal by Maliff in last minute propels Westies
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
WEST HAVEN (February 1, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team played one of its most thrilling contests of the year against Branford Wednesday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. After Branford tied the game twice in the third period, the Westies won 8-7 when Morgan Maliff scored with just 29 seconds remaining in the game off an assist from Brittany Gould. 
The goal was Maliff’s second of the game, to go along with an assist. Alyssa Maddern scored three times and Julia Consorte scored twice and added an assist as West Haven improved to 4-8 overall and 4-6 in the Southern Connecticut Conference. 
West Haven came out of the gates quickly, taking a 1-0 lead on Maddern’s goal, 5 minutes, 16 seconds into the game. After Branford scored twice in a span of 1:04 on goals by Emily Hershamm and Chandlar Fowler, Maddern evened the game at two with an assist going to Kristina Piper with 7:13 remaining in the opening period. Goals by Fowler and Caity O’Brien gave Branford a 4-2 lead just 4:11 into the second period before Consorte answered with two straight goals in a span of 4:02. Maliff and Carly Brereton assisted on the equalizer. 
Just nine seconds after Maliff evened the game, Fowler gave Branford a 5-4 lead. The Westies answered by scoring twice in a span of 1:14 to take a 6-5 lead. 
Carly Crouse set up Maddern to tie the game with 1:18 remaining in the middle period and Consorte set up Maliff’s go-ahead goal with four seconds to go in the period. 
West Haven’s lead did not last long into the third period. Lauren Kuhn evened the game 52 seconds in but Alyssa Woosley gave West Haven a 7-6 lead 52 seconds later. Hershamm again evened the game 3:52 into the period, setting up Maliff’s last-second heroics. 
The Westies took 37 shots in the game. Kelsey Viani made 19 saves in the win. 


Westies defeat Hornets
Long, Maddern lead Westies to 6-2 victory
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 26, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team rebounded from a thumping at the hands of Hall/Conard with a 6-2 victory over Branford Thursday evening at the DiLungo Rink in East Haven. Molly Long and Alyssa Maddern led the way with two goals each in the victory.  
Bittany Gould finished with a goal and two assists, while Alyssa Woosley, Carley Brereton, Jennifer Morrissey and Samantha Young each had assists. The Westies had 35 shots in the game.
Trailing 1-0 in the first period, West Haven tied the game with 2:26 to go when Morgan Maliff scored. The Westies took the lead for good just 1:43 into the second period when Gould set up Long for the go-ahead goal. 
West Haven increased the lead to 3-1 just 4:15 later when Maddern scored off an assist from Woosley. Maddern scored again 4:10 later off an assist from Brereton, Morrissey scored with 2:10 remaining and Long scored off assists from Gould and Young to cap the five goal second period. 
Kelsey Viani played well in goal, making 18 saves.


Westies fall to Hall/Conard
Nine goals in first two periods propels hosts
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 25, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team fell to Hall/Conard Wednesday night in West Hartford. The Westies allowed four goals in the first period and never recovered. 
The Warriors put pressure on throughout the game, peppering the Westies with 32 shots. Nina Kestenbaum led the way for Hall/Conard with two goals and an assist, Alyson Alissi scored twice and Juliana Bailey-Simao, Emily Corrales, Toni Giuliano and Rachel Arnonow each had a goal and two assists. 
West Haven trailed 4-0 after one period of play as the Warriors used goals by Kestenbaum, Corrales and another from Kestenbaum in a span of 1 minute, 42 seconds to take control of the game. 
Goals by Bailey Armenabar, Giuliano, Alissi, Bailey–Simao and Emmy Jednorowitz in the second period gave the Warriors a 9-0 lead. 
Trailing 10-0 in the third period, West Haven picked up its lone goal of the game. Alyssa Maddern scored off an assist from Carly Crouse with 3:57 remaining to break the shutout. 
Kelsey Viani made 19 saves in the loss, allowing nine goals. Josy Militrano allowed two goals and had two saves. 
Loren Sorgio made 15 saves in the victory for Hall/Conard.   

Hamden shuts out Westies
Thompson, Gontarski lead Green Dragons
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 18, 2012) –
 After scoring six goals in a loss to Stamford/Westhill, the West Haven girls’ hockey team was looking to keep the momentum going Wednesday afternoon against Hamden. One of the toughest teams on West Haven’ schedule, Hamden stopped the offensive explosion by the Westies in a 7-0 shutout at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. 
The Westies had a hard time containing Tiler Thompson, who scored three goals, and Katie Gontarski, who scored twice and added an assist. 
Thompson and Gontarski scored nine seconds apart in the opening period for a 2-0 Hamden lead before Gontarski’s second of the game just 4 minutes, 36 seconds into the first period extended the lead to 3-0. Taylor Tuelings scored 14 seconds later, giving Hamden a 4-0 lead after one period. 
Gontarski set up Thompson 2:30 into the second period to extend the lead to 5-0 before the Green Dragons sealed the game with two third period goals. Samantha Cozzolino scored 3:27 into the period and Thompson scored with 2:38 left for the 7-0 final. 
West Haven did not mount much of an offense with just 15 shots on goal. Hamden’s Megan DeCrescente stopped all 15 shots for the shutout. 
Josy Militrano made 15 saves in the loss for West Haven.  

Westies fall to Stamford/Westhill
Consorte and Maliff each score twice in loss
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 16, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team was able to find the back of the net six times Monday afternoon against Stamford/Westhill. Unfortunately for the Westies, they could not stop Cassie Miolene. 
Miolene scored five goals and added an assist as Stamford/Westhill defeat the Westies 8-6 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink.  Jessica Blasnick scored the other three goals for the victors. 
West Haven’s offense was spread out. Morgan Maliff and Julia Consorte each scored twice and added an assist, while Alyssa Woosley had a goal and two assists and Alyssa Maddern added a goal and an assist. The Westies had 53 shots in the game. 
After Blasnick and Miolene scored 11 seconds apart just 1 minute, 15 seconds into the game, West Haven cut the deficit in half when Consorte scored off assists from Carly Crouse and Woosley with 48 seconds remaining in the period. Miolene extended the advantage to two goals once again when she beat Kelsey Viani 14 seconds later. 
Miolene was at it again just 1:50 into the middle period to give
Stamford/Westhill a 4-1 lead. Once again, the Westies cut the deficit in half when Maddern and Sam Young set up Maliff with a shorthanded goal three minutes later. 
The Westies got within one goal 3:55 later when Woosley scored a power play goal off an assist from Maliff. That was as close as the Westies would get. 
Miolene and Blasnick scored before the period ended to extend the lead to 6-3. Blasnick’s goal would hurt as it came with 14 seconds remaining in the period. 
Blasnick extended the lead to 7-3 just 1:37 into the period before Woosley and Consorte set up Maliff 3:55 later to cut the deficit to 7-4. Consorte scored 1:13 later off an assist from Brittany Gould but that was as close as the Westies would get. 
Miolene’s fifth goal of the game with 1:06 remaining sealed the contest. Maddern scored the final goal of the game with 17 seconds remaining. Viani made 17 saves in the loss for West Haven.

Guilford defeats Westies
Indians score seven unanswered goals in win
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 14, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team lost its second straight lopsided affair with a 9-1 setback against Guilford Saturday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. The Indians scored seven unanswered goals to turn a close contest into a rout. 
After Catherine Rosadini and Mackenzie Cattaruzza gave Guilford a 2-0 lead in the first 2 minutes, 16 seconds of the game, West Haven inched closer in the final minute of the opening period. 
With 21 seconds remaining in the period, Alyssa Maddern scored off an assist from Morgan Maliff to cut the deficit in half. That was as close as the Westies would get. 
Tess Cianciolo, Allie Zarillo, Sarah Rosadini and Angelica Hurteau scored in the second period to give the Indians a 6-1 lead. The Indians finished the Westies in the third period. 
Guilford scored three times in a span of 1:16 to ice the contest. Alexa Brand scored 6:07 into the period, Nicole Raccuia scored 28 seconds later and Zoe Bosenberg added a power play goal 48 seconds later to put West Haven in a 9-1 hole. 
Josy Militrano made 19 saves in the loss.   

Westies fall to Hand
Tigers scored eight times in final two periods to win 10-4
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(Wednesday, January 11, 2012) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team knew it was playing a tough Hand team when it traveled to the Northford Ice Pavilion Wednesday afternoon. The Westies got a first-hand look of just how tough Hand is. 
Scoring four times in each of the second and third periods, the Tigers cruised to a 10-4 victory over West Haven.
Hand jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first period on a pair of goals by Marisa McCann. The Tigers took a 5-0 lead in the second, scoring all three goals in the first 1 minutes, 52 seconds, including twice in the first 44 seconds. 
The Westies got as close as 5-2 when Morgan Maliff scored an unassisted goal 5:46 into the period. Just 21 seconds later, Alyssa Woosley set up Alyssa Maddern to cut the deficit to 5-2. 
The Westies trailed 6-2 heading into the third period, but Maliff cut the deficit in half when she scored 5:32 into the period off assists from Julia Consorte and Woosley.
Hand’s Kelly D’Ancicco answered with three straight goals to give Hand a 9-3 lead. West Haven made the score closer when Nicole Brereton scored off an assist from Maddern with four seconds remaining, 
Josy Militrano faced 46 shots and made 36 saves in the loss.


Westies Bury Lauralton
Maliff, Woosley and Consorte too much for Crusaders
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(January 4, 2012) -
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team has been looking for offense all year. That offense finally arrived Wednesday afternoon. 
Led by seven points from Morgan Maliff, including three goals and four assists, and four points from Julia Consorte, the Westies defeated Lauralton Hall 8-4. 
The trio of Maliff, Consorte and Alyssa Woosley combined for 14 points and seven of the team’s eight goals. Molly Long added the other West Haven tally. 
The Westies took a 3-0 lead after one period of play as the trio of Maliff, Consorte and Woosley were on fire. 
Just 32 seconds into the game, West Haven took a 1-0 lead when Consorte and Maliff set up Woosley. That same combination set up Woosley again exactly nine minutes later for a 2-0 lead. 
Consorte picked up her third assist of the opening period when she set up Maliff’s first goal 3 minutes, 24 seconds later as the Westies took a 3-0 lead to the intermission. 
The Westies added three more goals in the second period and took a 6-3 lead. Maliff scored the first two goals of the period and was involved in all but one of the second period goals. 
The West Haven senior scored 6:07 into the middle period off an assist from Carly Crouse for a 4-0 lead, then scored unassisted 11 seconds later for a 5-0 advantage. 
Lauralton Hall beat West Haven goaltender Josy Militrano with the next two goals but Molly Long restored order. Long’s goal off an assist from Brittany Gould gave the Westies a 5-2 lead. 
West Haven put the game away late in the third period and it was Maliff who was at the center of attention. Maliff scored with 3:11 remaining for a 7-2 lead then assisted on Consorte’s clinching goal with 12 seconds remaining. 
Militrano was stellar in goal as she made 24 saves in her second career varsity start. West Haven had 38 shots in the game.  

Slow Start
Trumbull/Staples scores early and holds off Westies 
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 30, 2011) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team knew in order to beat Trumbull/Staples, the Westies would have to get off to a good start. Unfortunately for the Westies, that never materialized. 
Trumbull/Staples scored three times in the first period and held on to defeat the Westies 8-4 at the Edward L. Bennett Rink Friday morning. 
The Westies had four different players score goals and got within 4-2 after two periods of play. Trumbull/Staples never wavered, scored the first three goals of the third period and cruised to the victory over the Westies. 
Trailing 3-0 after one period of play, West Haven quickly cut into the deficit with a goal by Morgan Maliff just seven seconds into the third period. With the momentum on West Haven’s side, Trunbull/Staples restored order with a goal 1 minute, 37 seconds later. 
Brittany Gould responded for the Westies less than two minutes later and the Westies went to the third period trailing 4-2. 
Any hopes of a West Haven comeback quickly disappeared when Trumbull/Staples scored three times in the first nine minutes of the third period, including twice in a span of 50 seconds, to take a 7-2 lead. 
Julia Consorte set up Alyssa Woosley 16 seconds after Trumbull/Staples’ third goal and Rebecca Norman added another goal 3:31 later but it was not enough.  
West Haven’s third line, including Gould and Norman, accounted for two of West Haven’s four goals. 
Kelsey Viani made 33 saves in the game, allowing six goals. Josy Militrano stopped seven of nine shots in the final six minutes of the game. 
(December 29, 2011) – The West Haven junior varsity team fell to Hamden 7-4 Thursday afternoon at the Edward L. Bennett Rink. Hamden took control of the game early by scoring five goals in the opening period and cruising to the victory.
Hamden took a 6-0 lead in the second period before West Haven got on the board with 12 seconds remaining in the middle period. Samantha Palmieri set up Marisa Pacapelli to cut the deficit to five goals. 
Trailing 7-1, Carly Brereton set up Jordan Brereton 8 minutes 21 seconds into the third period and set up Pacapelli for Pacapelli’s second goal of the game 4:07 later. 
Just 51 seconds after Pacapelli’s second goal, Jordan Brereton scored her second goal of the game off an assist from Samantha Young to make the final 7-4.  
Josy Militrano made 13 savers in the loss. 

Simsbury Thumps Westies
West Haven loses 12-0 
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 21, 2011) –
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team knew it was in for a tough task when the Westies traveled to The International Skating Center in Simsbury to play a tough Simsbury team bWednesday evening. The Westies found out just how good Simsbury is. 
When the final buzzer went off, West Haven fell to Simsbury 12-0. The Westies managed just 14 shots in the game and none found the back of the net. 
Simsbury, on the other hand, took 40 shots on goal against Josy Militrano. Militrano made 28 saves against a superior Simsbury team in the loss. 


Westies Split Pair
Girls’ hockey loses to ND, beats Lauralton Hall
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
(December 16 and 17, 2011) -
 The West Haven girls’ hockey team opened the season with a split of its two games. The Westies fell to Notre Dame of Fairfield to open the season before rebounding to defeat Lauralton Hall. 
Friday evening saw the Westies travel to Milford to play the Lancers. The Westies were held to just 16 shots in the game and could not find the back of the net. 
Both goaltenders saw action between the pipes as Kelsey Viani stopped 18 of 21 shots. Trailing 3-0 in the third period, Josy Militrano played the final ten minutes and stopped seven of the nine shots she faced. Militrano’s minutes were valuable as she got to see game action against a tough Notre Dame team. 
The Westies rebounded from the loss Saturday evening when they traveled to The Wonderland of Ice in Bridgeport and defeated Lauralton Hall 6-2. 
Julia Consorte, Molly Long and Morgan Maliff all played well in the victory. Consorte scored three times and added an assist, Maliff scored twice and added an assist and Long had three assists. 
Lauralton got on the board first in the game but West Haven needed just six seconds to respond when Long fed Consorte to even the game 6 minutes, 19 seconds in. Just 1:11 later, the Westies took the lead for good. 
Consorte’s second of the game, off an assist from Maliff gave West Haven a 2-1 lead. Maliff extended the lead 2:11 later when she scored off assists from Consorte and Long for a 3-1 lead after one period of play. 
The Crusaders scored the only goal of the second period and the Westies took a 3-2 lead to the final period. As was the case in the first period, West Haven scored three times in the final period, including twice in a twenty second span, to put the game away. 
Samantha Young set up Consorte for a 4-2 lead 4:20 into the third period and Carly Crouse scored 20 seconds later for a 5-2 advantage. The Westies, who had 38 shots in the game, put the game away at the 8:41 mark when Long set up Maliff for a 6-2 lead. 
Viani stopped 17 of 19 shots in the game. Militrano played the final six minutes and stopped all four shots she faced. 


Looking to Make Strides
Westies looking to improve in 2011-2012
By MIKE MADERA
Westie Blue
West Haven girls’ hockey coach Carol Franco likes what she sees from her team already in the preseason. The coach likes the way the veterans are willing to lead. 
If West Haven is to improve as the season progresses, those leaders are going to have to pave the way. This season’s leadership begins with senior co-captains Morgan Maliff and Jennifer Morrissey. 
“Morgan is a senior who has been here since I started coaching here,” Franco said. “I have had her all four years. Morgan and Jennifer are solid players.”
Maliff will anchor Franco’s first line at center while Morrissey will do the same on the second line. The key for this year’s team will be to score more and Franco may have the team to do so. 
“I think the key is the confidence in the girls,” Franco said as she enters her fourth season as head coach of the team. “We want to make something happen. All of the girls have something to bring to the table. They have to believe in that.”
Maliff will anchor a first line which will see sophomore Alyssa Woosley and junior Molly Long on the wings. The second line anchored by Morrissey will see sophomore Nicole Woosley at left wing and junior Samantha Young at right wing. 
The third line is made up of two juniors and a senior. Junior Brittany Gould will center a line which will see Kristina Piper at left wing and junior Carly Brereton at right wing. 
“We want to improve and score a little bit more,” Franco said. “We want to stay in the game. We want to be more aggressive in regards to back checking and fore checking. We want to win those little battles.”
Franco will rotate three defensemen in front of her two goalies. Juniors Alyssa Maddern and Julia Consorte along with sophomore Carly Crouse will anchor the defense. Crouse is a strong player and Maddern is a forward who has moved to play defense. 
“I like that my strongest players are willing to carry the team,” Franco said. “I like the fact players like Alyssa Maddern, Carly Crouse and Julia Consorte are willing to help develop the rest of the team.”
Senior Kelsey Viani, who volunteered to go in net a year ago, returns to start between the pipes with sophomore Josy Militrano right behind.

The Westies, including Morgan Maliff (7), celebrate a goal against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Morgan Maliff celebrates her game-winning goal against Branford, February 1, 2012. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Morgan Maliff skates with the puck against Notre Dame-Fairfield, December 16, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

Marisa Pacapelli chases down a loose puck against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske. 

The Westies move the puck against Staples, December 30, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.


Samantha Young looks to get the puck out of the defensive zone against Notre Dame-Fairfield, December 16, 2011. Photo courtesy of Todd Dandelske.

GIRLS HOCKEY 2011-2012