NORTHFIELD — The Middlebury Union High School girls’ hockey team held onto first place in Division II with a tie and a win in two games last week.
Those results set up a crucial matchup on Wednesday between the 15-3-1 Tigers and visiting 15-2-2 Burr & Burton. The Tigers will be looking to avenge a 3-2 loss at Burr & Burton back on Dec. 21.
According to the Vermont Principals’ Association website, the Tigers are one quality point ahead of the second-place Bulldogs in the D-II standings. Thus, the winner of the 7 p.m. game at the Memorial Sports Center will clinch first place in the league, and the top seed for postseason play that begins next week. The VPA will announce pairings next Monday.
On this past Saturday, the Tigers picked up a key 2-2 tie at third-place Northfield (13-3-2). Goals by Timi Carone and Alli White, both set up by Julia Carone, gave MUHS a 2-0 lead. But Northfield rallied to pull out the tie despite being outshot, 29-10, by the Tigers. MUHS goalie Baily Ryan stopped eight shots in the deadlock.
On Wednesday, the Tigers thumped visiting Rice, 8-2. Timi Carone led the scoring parade with three goals and two assists, and Lauren Bartlett, Sara Kelley, Tajah Marsden, Rachel Howlett and White also tallied for MUHS. Sara Boe chipped in with four assists and Ryan had 11 saves. Rice goalie Emma Forgione finished with 20 saves as her team fell to 7-10.