WNY Girls Hockey Tuesday action; FLOP topples KenGI

Frontier/Lake Shore/Orchard Park (FLOP) are the defending section and federation champions, now they’re beginning to look like, and more importantly feel like the part.

The FLOP finally showed some championship form with a 5-0 takedown of Kenmore/Grand Island (Ken/GI) Tuesday night at Lincoln Arena.

In their previous two games, the FLOP has had an easy time getting pucks to the net but putting them in was a difficult task. They took 48 shots in a 3-3 tie with Monsignor Martin and had 78 in a 1-1 tie with West Seneca/Hamburg/Eden (HEWS).

“We have been having trouble finishing lately,” FLOP head coach Bob Klimowicz said. “We got a lot of shots on net but haven’t been able to finish. It’s good to get pucks in the net. It gives the girls confidence.”

Emily Kromer gave the FLOP confidence when she netted one in on 2-on-1 breakaway for the game’s first goal. Taylor Gehen put home a rebound with 24 seconds left to give her team the 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless second period, FLOP defender Brooke Becker went to work. Becker sniped in a shot from the point with 14 minutes left and scored her second goal of the night a few minutes later. Seventh-grader Julia Peters scored her first fed goal with under two minutes left to play.

The FLOP, who is currently at the top of the standings with 29.5 points, only lost a few pieces from last year’s team that went to the state final and look to be prime shape to defend their title when playoff time rolls around.

“We started off strong this year and then hit a plateau,” said Becker, who has already committed to play Division-I hockey at Providence. “Now we’re really starting to prepare for the playoffs. There is a really strong belief that we can get back to last year’s success. We’re in a good spot right now.”

Late in the third period, it appeared Ken/GI’s Nina Stockman scored as the puck crossed the goal line, however, the goal was waved off because the net was out of position.

It’s been a tough year for the young Kenmore/Grand Island team. Ken/GI picked up their first win of the season Monday, a 6-0 shutout over HEWS. However, Orlowski knows that come playoff time anything can happen.

“It’s hard to get everyone on the same page,” Ken/GI head coach Jeff Orlowski said. “We’re young and inconsistent. I always tell the girls, ‘It’s not about who wins the first game, it’s about who wins the last game’.”

Maggie Spyche got the 24-save shutout for the FLOP.

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Williamsville 6, Clarence/Amherst/Sweet Home 3

Holly Schmelzer scored two first period goals and picked up a hat trick as Williamsville defeated CASH. CASH forward Emma Faso had a goal and an assist moving her to 97 career points. Williamsville goalie Jenna Lukomski stopped 25 shots in the win.

Monsignor Martin 3, Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew 2

Fionna Danahy participated in all three Monsignor Martin goals they outlasted LID at Holiday Rink. Maddy Moran scored both goals for LID.