Amherst girls hockey holds inaugural 'pond tournament'

Amherst Girls Hockey held its first three-on-three "Pond Hockey" Tournament on Saturday at the Amherst Pepsi Center. Members of the Blue and Red champion teams, pictured from left, are: kneeling Abby Posner, Theresa Meosky and Mackenzie Pautler; middle row - Missy Mallon; standing - Allison Wesolowski, Corinne Shanahan, Alicia Oswald, Jordan Aprile, Sam Reinhart, Dominique Nero, Emily Beauchamp and Sara O'Brien.

The Amherst Girls House League (ages 11 to 14) held its inaugural three-on-three "Pond Hockey" Tournament on Saturday at the Amherst Pepsi Center.

The tournament reinforced the philosophies and teachings of the girls house league program including skating, stick-handling, passing, teamwork and offensive and defensive play.

The games were played on a condensed ice surface (half rink) which increased the intensity of play and contributions of each player. Teams of three, plus a goalie, competed in a tournament format within two divisions.

Each game consisted of two-10 minute halves with a customized scoring system. The top two teams in each division then played to determine the winner for each respective division.

The winners of the Blue division were Alicia Oswald, Allison Wesolowski and Jordan Aprile. The winners of the Red Division were Dominique Nero, Emily Beauchamp, Sara Obrien and Samantha Reinhart.

Others who competed were Erica Dombrowski, Jessica Higgins, Mackenzie Pautler, Corrine Shanahan, Lauren Haskins, Allyson Thomas, Carolyn Hopkins, Nadine Pizzuto, Sarah Higgins, Amanda Woods, Laura Finley, Samantha Wald, Margaret Mugel, Blair Pembleton, Emily Martin, Kathleen Ruggiero, Melissa Suszynski, Amanda Burns, Emily Keable, Helena Galvin, Nell Meosky, Becky Hotung, Emily Woods, Lauren Stall, Miranda Podlas, Abby Posner, Missy Mallon and Theresa Meosky.

Coaches Rick Hopkins, Pat Ruggiero, Marty Wesolowski and Mike Pautler thanks Patti Pembleton (Identity Ink Promotions/Custom Tees), Rich Mclean (Tony Martin Awards), Sandy and Steve Beauchamp, Alan Posner and Ann Marie Gajewski.