The YMSSA middle school girls hockey championship game was just as exciting as anticipated. In front of a packed crowd and an emotional roller coaster of a game, the Yavneh Redhawks prevailed and defeated WDS by the score of 5-3.
Right off the opening faceoff, WDS was relentless at the half court line, making it challenging for the Redhawks to get any sustained pressure and clear their defensive zone. It didn’t take long for Yavneh to start to assess the situation, adjust to the championship game atmosphere and play their game. Pressure began to build on WDS which led them to commit a penalty, giving Yavneh the power play. Yavneh did not fail to capitalize. At 6:56 in the first period, eighth grader, Tali Norman, and line mate Kira Jacobs, were relentless in front of the net leading to Norman’s stuff in for a goal! As if the team and the crowd weren’t already excited enough, just four minutes later, eighth grader Emma Reich added a second goal to make the score 2-0. But WDS would not give up. Their coach put in their best player for the face-off. She dangled around several defensemen and shot the puck, top shelf, just 16 seconds later. In this roller coaster of a game, on the very next shift, less than a minute later, Yavneh came back and responded with a hard working shift, resulting in a goal from eighth grader, Devora Rand. Yavneh was going into the locker room after the first period with a 3-1 lead.
No lead is safe in hockey. Just two minutes into the second period, WDS scored and kept Yavneh of their toes with a 3-2 lead. Once again, Yavneh responded well. Top line offensive partners, Emma Reich and Devora Rand went at it again and just two minutes later helped Yavneh regain a two goal lead with a great pass from Rand to Reich for the goal. Just 30 seconds later, WDS brought the game back to within one goal.
At this point, it was time for a change. Eighth grader Emma Reich had been a solid player both on offense and defense for the Redhawks. It was time for her to help preserve the lead and switch to defense. Eighth graders Julia Zaken and Eden Lippe, together with seventh graders Ora Lieberman and Shira Albert, stepped up with Reich to play shutdown defense for the remainder of the game. Devora Rand, off the assist from Hannah Greenberg, was able to give some breathing room at the start of the third period with a goal and there was no turning back from there. Every clear-out of the defensive zone drew a collective cheer from the team, as well as the fans, as the clock seemed to wind down ever so slowly. If the puck was not cleared and resulted in a WDS shot on goal, goalie Dahlia Feintuch, stepped up making big saves in the third, including when WDS had pulled their goalie and they had an extra player advantage. Finally, it was time for the 10 second countdown. As the final horn sounded, the court was flooded with fans and the Yavneh girls hockey Redhawks had completed an undefeated season!!!
Yavneh would like to commend WDS on a great game. Both teams showed incredible sportsmanship and middot, true to a yeshiva league.
Congratulations to all the members of the Yavneh Redhawks team on their undefeated season to remember: Managers, Molly Norman and Noa Baron. Sixth graders: Alex Falik, Kayla Goldberger, Hannah Goldberger and Rosalie Levin. Seventh graders: Mia Cohen, Ora Lieberman, Shira Albert, Sophie Yurowitz, Kira Jacobs and Dahlia Feintuch. Eighth graders: Tali Norman, Eden Lippe, Emma Reich, Devora Rand and Julia Zaken. Lastly, mazal tov to Coach Aliza Hiller on the incredible season. She was a true role model for the girls’ team as she led them to the championship. Her leadership and guidance showed the team that games are won by working hard together, both on and off the court.
On Friday, May 19, the team celebrated back at Yavneh Academy together with the entire school. A grand parade was held in their honor filled with the Yavneh cheerleaders, Redhawks banners and the trophy presentation
