FOXBORO, Mass. — The best way to spend a Sunday in Foxboro is at Rink 3 of the trusty Foxboro Sports Center.
That's where the biggest game of the day occurred, featuring the Hartford Jr. Wolfpack U14s against the Mass. Spitfires. It was another game in the NEGHL's U14 National Upper Division that showcased some high-end prospects who could soon be taking the ice in the NEPSAC.
The Wolfpack cruised to a 3-0 win, thanks to goals from Emma Shannon, Lillie Tevelde and Sophie Um. Shannon opened the scoring with a seeing-eye wrist shot through traffic from the point in the second period. Tevelde cashed in at the front of the net five minutes into the third period and Um added more insurance on the power play with seven minutes to go.
Here are six standouts from the game.
Julia Stepnowski
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack/Loomis Chaffee, 3/14/2010, F, left shot, 5-4
Stepnowski was one of the best all-around forwards on the ice. She played a smart game, made quick decisions, showed good hands in tight spaces in the offensive zone and generated speed quickly, which helped her create a little chaos for the Spitfires on the back check and in the neutral zone. She dominated at the face-off dot and always seemed to be in the right spot in all three zones. Stepnowski helped set up Shannon's goal, leading the rush and sticking with the rebound off Um's shot before working the puck back out high. She found open space in the slot on a late power play when Moors found her for a dangerous opportunity in close.
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Kamryn Moors
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, 04/2010, D, left shot
Moors (Simsbury, Conn.) was an excellent two-way presence on the blue line for Hartford. She's big and strong, which showed in her play in the defensive zone, making it tough on forwards around the net and using her long reach effectively in transition. With the puck, Moors constantly had her head up and read the play well, completing a couple impressive stretch passes. She found Alexa Pesarik behind the defense, banking a stretch pass off the boards right to her tape. In the third, Moors hit Cameron Ouellette in stride down the left wall for an easy entry and a good chance at the left circle.
Moors was also strong on the power play in the third period, holding the blue line a couple times. On one play, she saw an open lane down the slot and took it, getting a good backhand chance in front off a cross-ice feed. She set up shop down low and fed Julia Stepnowski (South Glastonbury, Conn.) for a good look in front.
Eden Mandel
Mass. Spitfires, 4/30/2010, F, left shot, 5-5
Mandel drove nearly all of the Spitfires' offense on Sunday, generating their best chances of the game. She effectively used her size and reach in the slot and around the net to create offense and handle defensive pressure. One of her best chances came in the first when she easily handled a bump from a defender, maintained possession and got a good short-side look. She stuck with the play behind the net, won the battle and extended zone time for the Spitfires. Mandel drew a tripping penalty in the third, too, after getting a step on the defense for what would have been at least a partial breakaway. On the ensuing power play, she won a puck battle in front, made a great deke to her backhand around the defender and goaltender but somehow didn't score on the open net.
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Sophie Um
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, 4/30/2010, F, right shot, 5-9
Um was a big, effective presence in the offensive zone who easily outmuscled defenders and generated solid looks. She had a great chance in the second in the lead-up to Shannon's goal, taking a drop pass from Stepnowski and wiring a heavy wrister that forced Noble to make a good shoulder save. In the third, Um made it 3-0 when a shot from the point deflected off her leg as she battled hard to provide a screen in the slot.
Vienna Noble
Mass. Spitfires, 2028, G, catches left
Noble (Hingham, Mass.) was the biggest reason the Wolfpack didn't get on the board until the second period. She read plays and reacted well throughout the game, challenging shooters and staying square to shots. She robbed Emma Bashawaty in the slot off a turnover, quickly pushing over and squeezing the shot between her blocker and body. Moments later, she anticipated and reacted quickly to deny Colbi Corville in the slot off the rush before smartly holding for a face-off to settle things down. In the third, Noble made one of her best saves of the game, a quality shoulder save on Pesarik on the slot off a face-off.
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Lillie Tevelde
Hartford Jr. Wolfpack, 2028, F, right shot
Tevelde's line with Oullette and Tatum Hall had good chemistry all game. She had a chance to double the lead right after the opening goal with strong look in tight. Tevelde and her linemates worked an excellent cycle low in the offensive zone. She got the puck from Hall below the goal line and exploded off the wall with a power move to the crease to try and stuff it five-hole. Tevelde eventually cashed in during the third, burying a rebound to the side of the net off Summer Discordia's shot from distance.
