The MYHSAL yeshiva girls hockey championship was played on Monday night, June 11, at the Frisch School, between the undefeated defending champion Kushner Cobras, and the 7-1 second-place Heschel Heat, whose only loss came early in the season at the hands of the Cobras, 2-0.

Defensively both teams were very evenly matched coming into the game, with Kushner’s stingy defense only giving up two goals in 10 games (having not been scored upon since their second game) and Heschel’s defense having given up only eight. Offensively, it was a different story, as Heschel entered the game having scored 50 goals over 10 games compared to Kushner’s 35.

The game began with Kushner controlling much of the early pace as they jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead only 1:30 into the game, on a goal that beat junior goaltender Shoshana Scheinberg high to the glove side. As the game moved on, however, the Heschel Heat began to slowly, and methodically, wrestle control of the game away from the defending champs, with the Heat managing to close out the first with a flurry of activity in front of the Kushner net, forcing Kushner goalie Julia Morreale to come up with some very timely saves.

The second period began with Heschel continuing to pin the defending champs deep in their zone until, with just over two minutes left in the period, senior offensmen, and co-captain Marley Storch, managed to control a loose puck in the high slot and riffled a perfectly placed shot to the top corner of the far side of the net to tie the game up at 1-1. The goal was the first one given up by Kushner in eight games.

The third period saw several excellent offensive chances and with solid saves being made by both goaltenders, until about roughly halfway through the period when Heschel’s other co-captain and senior defenseman Madison Vershleiser managed to keep the puck in at the point and fire a low-rising shot on net that beat the Kushner net minder to the short side to give the Heat a 2-1 lead, which they wouldn’t relinquish for the rest of the game.

While Kushner did manage to apply some late pressure, an outstanding toe save made by Heschel goaltender Shoshana Scheinberg with 30 seconds left in the game managed to seal the win and give the Heat their first-ever girls high school hockey championship.

By JLNJ Sportsdesk