Southington co-op skater Nina Holm carries the puck down ice in the CCC title game against Simsbury. The Nighthawks beat New Canaan Saturday night and will be going to the state finals.
SHELTON, March 4, 2023 – Co-captain Nicole Partridge had a pair of goals as the Southington co-op girls hockey team beat defending state champion New Canaan, 4-1 on Saturday to earn a spot in Wednesday’s state championship game.
Southington co-op, which is made up of players from Southington, Avon, Wethersfield. RHAM, Coventry and Newington, will face Darien in the Connecticut High School Girls Hockey Association (CHSGHA) title game at Quinnipiac University on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
It will be the first title game appearance for the Nighthawks, who won the Central Connecticut Conference title a week ago with a 4-0 win over Simsbury. Top-seeded Darien (19-1) will be making their sixth consecutive appearance in the title game.
Darien eliminated the Nighthawks, 5-1 from last year’s tournament in the semifinals.
Avon was the host school for the first five years of the Nighthawks co-op. Southington took over the hosting duties this season.
Southington co-op 4, New Canaan 1
At Shelton
Southington co-op (21-3) 1 1 2 — 4
New Canaan (18-5-1) 0 0 1 — 1
Goals: Nicole Partridge (S) 2, Bella Bonfiglio (S), Emily Moskal (S); Lexie Tully (NC); Assists: Bonfiglio, Maya Fanelli (NC), Kaalyn Reynolds (NC); Saves: Sophia Ojala (S) 23, Ashton Pinkernell (NC) 23
