On Tuesday, March 18th, the defending girls hockey champion Frisch Cougars opened their season against the Ramaz Rams in Paramus. This year’s Frisch team brings back a core group of players including new starting goalie Junior Jessica Adler; on defense, lone senior Yael Ledner; juniors Leora Jarashow, Ariela Katz, and sophomore Talia Levie; on offense, juniors Michal Michael and Kayla Blumenfeld (last year’s scoring leaders), as well as sophomores Miriam Reichman and Sigal Levine. Junior defenseman Rachel Markowitz returns to the team after a one-year hiatus. This year’s Cougars are also joined by a strong freshman class. On offense, Abigail Rochlin, Hannah Weisbrot, Talya Gellis and Tara Davidoff; on defense, Aliza Pavel, Jodi Fishbein and Lauren Aduculesi, and in goal Nechama Levie.
The Cougars looked to start this season where they left off last year, and on just their second shift freshman Hannah Weisbrot scored from in front 2:56 into the game on a feed from line mate Abigail Rochlin. Both teams were getting shots on net, but the goalies stood their ground and did not give up second-chance opportunities. Frisch would take its lead into the locker room after one.
The second period wasn’t much different from the first. Ramaz continued to put the ball on net, but Jessica Adler refused to give up any rebounds. Being outshot by a wide margin in the second, the Cougars needed a boost and they got it with 3:59 left in the period. On a nifty elevated back hand pass by Kayla Blumenfeld from behind the net, Michal Michael netted her first of the season on a quick one-timer to the upper right hand corner. Ramaz, looking for its first goal of the season, kept the pressure on by sending three players deep at a time. The Cougars’ defense held and took a 2-0 lead into the third period.
Ramaz fought to keep it close, but with 6:31 left in the game Aliza Pavel sent an outlet pass up the middle to Kayla Blumenfeld for a breakaway. With a triple-deak, Kayla pulled the goalie to her left and then put the ball in on the right side off her backhand giving Frisch a commanding 3-0 lead. Just 21 seconds later Frisch would strike again as Michal Michael found the loose ball at the right post and put it in for her second of the game. Michal and Kayla would strike one more time with 3:29 left. Michal sent the ball from the corner to the front of the net where Kayla was waiting. After retrieving her own rebound, Kayla knocked it in putting the final touch on a 5-0 victory.
The Cougars head next to Kushner.
By Yaakov Lisker
