BY RANDY SCHULTZ –
Cheektowaga, NY – Hollywood couldn’t have scripted the outcome of St. Mary’s High School girl’s hockey game much better Monday afternoon. Trailing 2-0 going into the third period against the HEWS (Hamburg, Eden, West Seneca) girl’s hockey team, St. Mary’s scored two unanswered goals in the closing minutes to salvage a 2-2 OT tie at the Cheektowaga Town Ice Rink.
It was the opening game for both teams as the Western New York Girls Varsity Ice Hockey League opened its 12th season of play. It also marked the first game ever for the St. Mary’s team, who are in their first season of play in the WNYGVIH.
Following a scoreless first period, HEWS took a 1-0 lead at the 4:50 mark of the second period on a goal by Elizabeth O’Brien. Less than two minutes later twin sister, Katherine O’Brien, scored to give HEWS a 2-0 lead. The twins are seniors at Hamburg High School.
Then came the third period heroics of the Lancers. First it was Alannah Pagano scoring the first goal in St. Mary’s girl’s hockey history to cut the HEWS lead in half at 7:29.
Then Kristen Domagola tied the game for St. Mary’s at 11:44. Regulation time ended with the teams tied. The two teams then played a five-minute overtime, with neither team scoring.
HEWS outshot St. Mary’s 34-10. Avery Hall, a freshman, turned aside 32 of the 34 HEWS shots, including two breakaway’s in the closing minutes of the game.
Leia Schneid, a 10th grader from Hamburg High School, played a solid game in goal for HEWS.
NOTES – Mia Leemer had the honor of dropping the puck for the ceremonial faceoff just prior to the start of the contest. Leemer is a freshman who suffers from a brain tumor which ended her hockey career. She has been very instrumental in helping build the St. Mary’s girls hockey program from it’s inception.
Assists on the two HEWS goals went to Holly Stuart (Hamburg HS), Jackie Supples (West Seneca HS) and Hailey Cooper (Eden HS).
Assists on the two St. Mary’s goals went to Samantha Hatt.
St Mary’s First WNYGVIH Team 
Puck Drops on St. Mary’s first game 
Haefner Gall HCooper 
First ever Faceoff 
HEWS takes a hit 
Danielle Cottrell & Jackie Supples battle 
HEWS Goalie Leia Schneid 
First Period Action 
Alanna Pagano, scored the first-ever goal for St. Mary’s 
Alannah Pagano 
Elizabeth O’Brien and Reece Gall 
Pagano 
Teddie Osinski 
First Game, First No Goal Call 
Morgan Jozwiak 
Laura Haefner 
Brynn Holland and Laura Haefner 
Hailey Cooper and Teddie Osinski 
Hailey Cooper 
Pagano with Puck 
Leia Schneid 
Sara Cervoni 
Supples Faceoff 
Avery Hall Puck Handles 
Regian Hall and Puck in from of Avery Hall 
St. Mary’s Goaltender Hall 
HEWS scores second Goal of game 
At the Net 
Avery Hall Makes a Save in St. Mary’s Inaugural Game 
Avery Hall 
Battle behind the net 
Danielle Cottrell 
Elizabeth O’Brien 
Elie Yuhas 
First Goal of the Game scored by HEWS Elizabeth OBrien 
Freeman Collision 
Shannon Freeman with Puck 
Hailey Cooper 
HEWS Andzel Tries a Wrap around 
HEWS shoots on target 
HEWS works on a rebound shot 
Katherine O’Brien 
Riley Kumrow 
Kumrow, Cervonie, Hall 
Livia Lehner 
Livia Lehner 
Passing to the PHotographer 
Puck Battle with Osinski and Regian 
Riley Andzel 
Kumrow 
Shannon Freeman 
Net Action 
St. Mary’s Player (unidentified at this time) 
action 
Action 
Battle in the end zone 
Domagola celebrates St. Marys first goal 
Domagola puts in second goal for St. Mary’s 
First Goal Celebration 
Freeman with puck 
Gall Tries 
Jozwiak, Domagola 
Haefner 
Schneid Save 
Schneid Save 
St Mary’s first goal Celebration 
Stick Action 
One Happy One Sad Pagano 
Jozwiak & Schneid 
St Mary’s First Goal Goes in 
Working for that first goal 
Gall and Sophia Phillips 
K Obrien and T Osinski 
Third Period Faceoff 
Reece Gall was the first St. Mary’s player to take the ice 
Teddie Osinski
