Girls hockey: Dominant Hanover wins 14th state championship

Mar. 16—MANCHESTER — The battle for New Hampshire high school girls hockey supremacy started late and was decided early for Hanover on Saturday.

The third-seeded and defending champion Bears skated to a three-goal lead halfway through the first period and sank the top-seeded Oyster River/Portsmouth ClipperCats, 6-1, to capture their record 14th championship in 18 years.

The game was delayed by more than two hours after the NHIAA Division I boys championships went into four overtimes at SNHU Arena.

"We knew we would have to have a really strong start for this game and really dictate the pace because the past times we played them, they've been a good team. It's been a battle every time we play them," said Hanover senior forward Nora Bradley, who scored twice to win her third state title in four years.

Bradley said the Bears had a tough adjustment as both teams waited in the wings.

"We tried to just keep our energy up by eating a lot more than we anticipated, keeping hydrated, trying to stay off our feet," Bradley said.

Hanover found its footing fast when Hannah Gardner started the scoring just 2:52 into the first. Rachel Rockmore and Casey Wilkinson quickly made it 3-0, and the deficit was too much for the ClipperCats, who lost their third straight state championship game.

Down early, Oyster River/Porstmouth coach Jamie Long called a timeout to settle his team. The ClipperCats played much better from then on, but the damage was done.

"I don't know if it affected us or not," Long said. "How are we ever going to know? But I don't think it helped. They had to sit around too."

Mallory Desantis scored the lone goal for the ClipperCats and Sienna Metcalf was stopped on a great breakaway bid late after avoiding a check, regaining control and shooting point-blank on Hanover goalie Eleanor Edson (16 saves).

Oyster River/Portsmouth goalie Sage Bussiere turned away several prime scoring chances, making 17 saves, and tried to keep the ClipperCats close.

Goals by Casey Wilkinson and Julia Lawe rounded out the scoring for the Bears.

Hanover finished the season 16-4, with all of its losses coming to teams from out of state. Oyster River/Portsmouth ended its campaign with an 18-3 record, with all three losses coming to Hanover.

"We played them twice, and we probably played our best two games, some of our best hockey against them," Hanover coach John Dodds said. "They've got some girls that can really move the puck and fly, and I knew we'd have to be right on. They really did a good job on the forecheck, and they bottled us up."

dpierce@unionleader.com

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Girls hockey: Dominant Hanover wins 14th state championship

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