The Middlesex girls' varsity ice hockey team hosted Kents Hill on Friday, December 6 for their first game of the 2013-2014 season. After a slow first period, the Zebras went on a three-goal scoring spree in the third period to earn the decisive 5-1 win.

Arushi Ray '14 opened the scoring for Middlesex just 3:25 into play off a pass from line mate Cici Frattasio '14. And although the puck spent the majority of the time in the Huskies' defensive end, they were able to get on the score board with 6:49 left in the period with a 5-3 player up advantage. Middlesex responded with a goal of their own a short time later however, when Frattasio converted off a pass from  Ray to enter the locker room up by one. 

The defensive unit of Leah Olson '15, Brooke Gary '14, Caelin Flaherty '17 and Mary Demoulas '16 were able to shutdown numerous scoring opportunities for the Huskies in the second stanza. And despite a scoreless period, the Zebras started to generate a stronger passing game and challenged the Kents Hill goaltender with 13 shots on net.

Entering the third and final period, Middlesex knew they would have to continue to battle in order to convert their shots into goals. Just 34 seconds into play, Frattasio scored her second tally of the evening off of a feed from Demoulas at the point to give the Zebras the insurance goal they needed. From that goal on, Middlesex had complete control of the game and were able to put the puck in the net two more times before the final buzzer sounded. At the 12:17 mark, senior forward Hailey Porter tucked the puck behind the Huskies' goalie with assists from Sarah Tabeek '14 and Maddie Winslow '14. Four minutes later, Olson walked in from the point and hit just inside the top left crossbar after receiving a pass from defensive partner Flaherty to close out the scoring for the night.

Christina Cleroux '14 turned away 16 shots, one of which included an impressive glove save that a Kents Hill forward attempted to put to the top right corner but was ultimately denied.  Freshman Pauline Santry, Sage Nye and Brenna Chitkara all had solid performances for Middlesex while veterans Juliette Bendheim '16 and Madeleine Coleman '16 added an extra spark to the offensive line.

The Zebras return to action on Wednesday, December 11 for another non league game when they host Proctor Academy at 4:30pm.