JAY PEAK — Despite a 34-10 advantage in shots on goal in Saturday’s Division II semifinal, the No. 6 Middlebury Union High School girls’ hockey team came up short at No. 2 North Country, 3-2.
The Tigers finished at 13-9, including an overtime playoff win at No. 3 Rutland and a win at No. 1 Harwood in their regular season finale that showed they were a threat for the D-II title.
Coach Tim Howlett said the team also played well on Saturday, but ran into some bad luck and a hot goaltender, the 16-5 Falcons Mikaella Doran.
“It just came down to the bounce of the puck. A couple more our way, and we’d have moved on,” Howlett said. “We really did have some good chances, but Mikaella Doran had a great game in net.”
The Falcons took a 2-0 lead, but Timi Carone scored in the final minute of the second to make it 2-1. NCU scored early in the third, but Carone found the net again to make it 3-2. Howlett said the Tigers had plenty of chances after that, right down to when he pulled goalie Baily Ryan (seven saves) with 1:04 to go, but couldn’t equalize.
Three seniors will graduate from the Tiger team, captain and defensive mainstay Taylor Becker, starting forward Nora McLaughlin, and reserve goalie Ali Sheldrick.