The Frisch girl’s hockey team faced off last Friday against the undefeated Heschel Heat at TABC. As the defending champions, the Frisch Cougars had high expectations going into the season. But the season ended with a precarious position in the playoffs; they had 6 losses and only 2 wins. Despite their record, Frisch went into the playoffs a confident team.
As the 4 seed in the Western Division, Frisch went on the road to SAR, the East 1 seed; Frisch defeated them by a score of 5-4. The other three Western Division teams, Heschel, Kushner and Ma’ayanot, also won their quarterfinal matchups leading to an all-West semi-final round. Heschel had a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Ma’ayanot, sending them to the championship for the first time in four years.
Frisch traveled to 2 seed Kushner in what turned out to be an epic comeback. Down 2 goals going into the third period Frisch scored halfway through on a top corner rip by junior offenseman Tara Davidoff and then tied up the game with a minute remaining in regulation on a beautiful shot by senior offenseman Sigal Levine. With momentum on their side and a tiring Kushner team, Frisch did not let up; they scored about 5 minutes into overtime on a half court shot by Joelle Solowiejczyk to send them to the championship with the 4-3 victory and the feeling of “No one can stop us.”
In what has to be one of the most unique situations ever in Yeshiva sports, the Cougars now had the chance for more playoffs victories than regular season wins. The Frisch team was eager to take on this challenge and take on the undefeated Heat.
The stands were packed that Friday afternoon at TABC. Heschel had a perfect record, but Frisch came in the more experienced team, having played in the previous three championships and winning two of them.
Frisch controlled the game early. After five minutes of good offensive pressure, junior defenseman Aliza Pavel made a perfect pass to junior offenseman Hannah Weisbrot, who one-timed the ball inside the far post putting the Cougars up 1-0. With 4:25 left in the first period Frisch was called for high-sticking. Frisch’s penalty kill unit (defenseman senior captain Talia Levie, Aliza Pavel and junior offenseman Talya Gellis) did not give up a shot on goal. The period ended with Frisch playing stellar defensive hockey and in control of the game.
In the second period Heschel turned up the heat, creating several scoring chances. Nechama Levie was a wall-in-net, stopping several point blank shots.
With less than a minute remaining in the final period, Heschel pulled their goalie to get an extra attacker on. Frisch did not relent; Weisbrot scored her second goal in the empty net as time ran out giving the Frisch Cougars a 2-0 lead and the championship win. The team celebrated what was truly an amazing game played, a real team effort. Nechama Levie was named game MVP for her stellar play in net and getting the shutout. Seniors Talia Levie, Sigal Levine and Miriam Reichman ended their Frisch hockey careers on a high winning their third championship in four years.
By Coach Yaakov Lisker and Talia Levie
