Bisons 19U wins state girls Tier I championship

The Buffalo Bisons 19U team compiled a record of 6-0, including a 3-2 double-overtime victory over National Sports Academy of Lake Placid to win the New York State Girls Tier I 19-and-Under Championship March 9 in Mount Vernon. Members of the team, pictured from left, are: first row - Kimberly Sass (East Amherst), Pamela Zgoda (Cheektowaga), Erica Owczarczak (West Seneca), Kristina Moss, Kelsey Welch (East Amherst), Mackenzie Lee, Kelly Mendola; second row - Robert Sass (East Amherst), Scott Welch (East Amherst), Haley Welch (East Amherst), Cassie Stein, Carolyn Wolcott, Brianna Murphy (Depew), Julia Fleming, Maggie Giamo (Orchard Park), Grace Waters (Snyder), Brigitte Cellino (West Seneca), Jacquie Greco (Clarence), Gary Moss, Abby Runyon, and Jay Waters (Clarence).

The Buffalo Bisons 19U team compiled a record of 6-0, including a 3-2 double-overtime victory over National Sports Academy of Lake Placid, to win the New York State Girls Tier I 19-and-Under Championship on March 9 in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

The Bisons opened the tournament with a 9-2 victory over the host Sound Shore Warriors and followed up with a 1-0 win over the Troy-Albany Ice Cats. Day two of round-robin play began with a 6-1 victory over Suffolk PAL and capped with a 5-1 victory over longtime rival Syracuse Stars. The Bisons closed out round-robin play with a 3-2 win against National Sports Academy.

The championship game began with the Bisons jumping out to an early first-period lead. Tight-checking play continued with NSA tying the score at 1-1 later in the period.

The Bisons held off a surging NSA attack and regained the lead late in the second period. The lead was short-lived, however, as an unfortunate bounce on an NSA dump-in during the last minute of the period evened the score, and the second period ended with the score tied at 2-2. Each team had several scoring opportunities throughout the third but could not convert, as regulation ended tied at 2-2.

The Bisons applied strong offensive pressure during the first overtime but were unable to find the back of the net, and the first overtime period ended with the outcome still undecided.

The second overtime featured back-and-forth play as the tension rose. With just over three minutes remaining in the second overtime, Brigitte Cellino picked up the rebound of a point shot and back-handed the game winner past the helpless goaltender.

With a record of 30-12-5, the Bisons will play in the USA Hockey National Championships in West Chester, Pa., April 2-6.