The Ma’ayanot Rapids (5-1-1) ended their five game winning streak with a 3-2 loss to Heschel (6-1) on April 30 in Manhattan. The Heat are now in first place in the West division of the MYHSAL.

Heschel jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Ma’ayanot senior Eden Schechter then tied the game up with a back-handed shot in the second period. She was assisted by junior Sarah Hanian. The Heat answered back with a goal only a minute later to take a 2-1 lead at the end of the second.

In the third period, the Rapids tied the game when Hanian scored on an assist from Esther Avidan. However, less than two minutes later, Heschel took the lead on a wild slap shot. They held their lead, despite a barrage of Rapids shots in the final minutes, having pulled their goalie for a fifth player.

Next, Ma’ayanot traveled to Kushner (5-1-1) on May 6. They came from behind to tie the Cobras 2-2 in a wild “battle of the goalies.”

The Cobras took a 2-0 lead in the first period on back-to-back goals by sophomore Tommi Ratzker (assisted both times by fellow sophomore Hannah Nussbaum). After a scoreless second period, Ma’ayanot launched a comeback, starting with a goal by sophomore Yonina Marder, assisted by senior Lilly Fuchs. Then, with only a few minutes left in regulation, Schechter tied the score, with an assist by Avidan. This sent the game into overtime, though neither side was able to score.

The big story in this game was the goalies: Kushner’s Beth Glanz, a freshman, and Ma’ayanot’s Tamar Pasternak, a junior. Each had dozens of saves throughout the game, including multiple that looked certain to be a goal. Both had stops in overtime that fans were certain would end the game. It was their individual skill that kept the score so low.

Ma’ayanot and Kushner are currently tied for second place in the West division. The former will end their season against HAFTR and the latter will finish against Flatbush.