WNY Fed Girls Semi-Finals: KenGI and FLOP Prevail

The Northtown Center in Amherst, NY was rocking Monday night as the semi-final round of the Section VI Girls Hockey Championships got underway.

In the first game, the No. 1 seed Williamsville team took on the No. 4 seed Kenmore-Grand Island (KenGI). Williamsville came into this game undefeated and looking to knock off KenGI, a team that always seems to be in their way of moving onto the State’s. KenGI played well below .500 hockey this past season finishing with a 5-10 record, with three of those wins coming in OT. Williamsville defeated KenGI in all 3 of their meetings in 2016-17.

Unfortunately for Williamsville, Olivia Smith still plays for KenGI and the senior forward went off. Smith recorded a hat-trick and an assist to lead KenGI to a 4-2 stunning upset over Williamsville. “We have a lot of confidence in ourselves, we knew we could beat them if we played our game” Smith said after the win. Her teammate Hannah Gallivan, also a senior had a goal and an assist. Smith scored her first goal on a breakaway early in the first period. Williamsville however stormed back, scoring the next two goals. Leah Cwerwinski jumped on a rebound tying the game just minutes after Smith’s opening goal. Soon after Maggie Fuzak scored the go-ahead goal off a 2-on-1. Williamsville took a 2-1 lead into the 1st intermission and had an edge in shots 7-2.

KenGi’s Gallivan opened up the 2nd period with a goal just 28 seconds in, tying the game 2-2. Smith then put her team on her back and scored two big goals, her 2nd goal of the game came at 9:04. She brought the puck out of her own zone and went around the Williamsville defense, cut in front of the goaltender Jenna Lukomski and tucked the puck in stick side to give KenGI the 3-2 lead. At 12:26 Smith did the exact same thing, completing the hat-trick. It was a carbon copy of her 2nd goal. Despite being outshot 12-7 in Period 2, KenGI had the 4-2 lead. The 3rd period belonged to 7th grader Ellie Simmonds, the KenGI goaltender. Simmonds made one fantastic save after another. She showed tremendous ability all game and played like a veteran. You would never know she was as young as she is. Simmonds faced 42 shots on goal making 40 saves in the win.

“She’s incredible, just unbelievably good” Williamsville coach Rich Hopkins said after the loss. “I’m very proud of our girls this season, it’s not the way we wanted it to end obviously. This is a familiar ending.”

The No 2 seed Frontier, Lake Shore, Orchard Park, better known as the FLOP took on Clarence, Amherst Sweet Home (CASH) the No 3 seed in the second game. The FLOP scored just 18 seconds in, Jessica Peters was credited with the goal with Megan Roche assisting. CASH answered back at 6:01 Casey Adimey fed Charleigh Rondeau for the equalizer. Frangelica Bautz put the FLOP up 2-1 with assists from Brooke Becker and Roche just before the end of the 1st period. CASH was outshot 14-4 after 15 minutes. In the 2nd period Roche scored extending the FLOP’s lead over CASH 3-1, Becker had the helper.

Mary Kromer added another goal in the 3rd period to round out the scoring and ending the season for CASH.

Victoria Cottrell finished with 19 saves for the FLOP while CASH goaltender Gina Densico stopped 30 shots.

Both Games Could be heard here: Williamsville vs KenGI and FLOP vs CASH

The Section VI Championship game will be played Wednesday at Northtown with an 8pm puck drop. Admission is $5.

#2 Seed Frontier, Lake Shore and Orchard Park (FLOP) vs #4 Seed Kenmore East, West and Grand Island (KenGI)