Story and Photos by Janet Schultz, NYHOL
KenGiPort has taken three Section VI titles in a row since 2021-22. However prior to that Kenmore took five Section VI titles and played six times in the NYS Tournament in the past 14 years of WNYGVIH Federation play.
This season WNYGVIH was a hard one to call once again. It seemed that NICO was going to roll right on through. The Niagara County Lady Warriors had gone undefeated for 13 straight games, including non-league, and was upset up Lancaster/Iroquois/Depew/Alden on January 23 by one goal.
KenGiPort was fighting hard to stay in the top of the heap and managed to do just that and headed into the playoffs seeded second. They defeated Williamsville, seeded eighth and took to the semi-finals against Hamburg/Eden/West Seneca. They defeated HEWS 3-1 and that set them up for the finals against NICO on Monday.
The game was KenGiPort’s in the first period with Bella Jayme scoring in the first period on the powerplay, assisted by Isabelle Bourgeault and Teagan Willats. Heading 1-0 into the second period it was KenGiPort once again with Alyse Alberalla scoring, assisted by Juliet Chadima. This time NICO answered that goal and scored one by Sam Latini, assisted by Sam Draper and Abby Zimmerman with just 46 seconds left in the period. It’s 2-1 KenGiPort heading into the third period.
Third period it was KenGiPort getting on the board first with a goal by Jayme, assisted by Bourgeault and Denning. NICO answers back on a goal by Zimmerman, assisted by Maddie Martin and Latini with five minutes left. It stayed and KenGiPort takes a 3-2 victory and heads to the first-ever Far West Regional Tournament.
Samantha Horne faced 27 shots on goal and stopped 25. For NICOit was Kennedy Ruest stopping 16/19.
Photos by Janet Schultz©
