The girls’ varsity ice hockey team turned in their season’s best performance against an undefeated St. Paul’s School on Wednesday, February 6 in Concord, NH. The Zebras played with intensity and poise but ultimately fell to the hosting team 2-1.

Middlesex shook off the hour and fifteen minute bus ride with ease and came out of the gates on fire.  Neither team took definitive control of the first 10:00 of play as the puck traveled at warp speed from goal line to goal line. Finally, Sarah Tabeek ’14 broke open the scoring for the Zebras at the 5:10 mark when she received a pass from Isabel Kreitler ’13 in midst of a flurry in front of the net to take the 1-0 lead.

Both teams began the second period with even more intensity and determination than the first. Christina Cleroux ’14 continued to make acrobatic saves to maintain the 1-0 lead while Jeanie Dwinell’ ’13, Ashley Arnold ’13, Brooke Gary ’14 and Leah Olson ’15 were flawless in the defensive play. With 50 seconds remaining in the period however, the Pelicans were able to capitalize on a loose puck off the right post for the 1-1 equalizer.  

The third period played out much like the first and second with an equal amount of opportunity for either team to take the lead.  The Zebras’ forward lines continued to play a fantastic game of two way hockey and had some of the best offensive rushes on the season to date.  With 1:26 left to play, the Pelicans scored what would prove to be the game winner as Caitrin Lonergan found the puck off the right post to tally her second point of the evening.

Christina Cleroux had an outstanding 22 save game, while several other Middlesex players including: Arushi Ray ’14, Isabel Krietler ’13 and Sarah Tabeek ’14 tuned in their season’s best performance.

Although disappointed with the loss, the Zebras will look to carry the momentum that they gained into their next ISL match-up when they face  Milton on Saturday, February 9 at 1:30pm in Concord, MA.