WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Sophie Trombley was happy to decline credit for the Hartford High girls hockey team’s winning goal Friday night at Wendell A. Barwood Arena. The junior was awarded the tally, which pushed the Hurricanes past U-32 in overtime and into their first VPA Division II state title game in 20 years, but she admittedly never touched the puck.
“I turned around, ready to get the rebound, but it was already in,” said Trombley, a center who was posted up in the low slot, her back to Raiders goaltender Renee Porter, when the biscuit zipped past to give the hosts a 5-4 triumph with 11.4 seconds remaining in the first overtime.
“I was almost crying at the start of overtime because I was so nervous, but then the winning goal gave me so much relief.”
Second-seeded Hartford (19-3-0) advances to face neighboring rival and top-seeded Woodstock (20-1-0) in Monday’s 6 p.m. championship clash at the University of Vermont’s Gutterson Field House. The Hurricanes dropped the teams’ first matchup this winter, 3-1, before handing the Wasps a 4-3 loss during the regular-season finale.
“I’m happy that it’s Woodstock, because we know what to do against them,” Trombley said. “But we don’t want to be cocky about it, because we also know how good they are.”
In a horribly ironic twist Friday, it was U-32 forward Caitlyn Fielder who reached sideways for Grace Bazin’s shot from the right point on the deciding play. The puck redirected down off the junior’s hand and into the net. Fielder, who had two goals and an assist, was one of the contest’s top performers.
“She shouldn’t be upset about that, because she had an outstanding game,” said U-32 coach Larry Smith, whose team lost twice to Hartford by a combined nine goals during the regular season. “Both goalies had key stops, and that whole game was back and forth.”
Hartford held a 33-31 shot advantage, and each team watched potential scoring chances crawl along or just up to the goal line in front of a near-capacity crowd. The Raiders and Hurricanes were never separated by more than a goal, and tension inside the refurbished barn off Highland Avenue grew by the minute.
“It got to the point where I didn’t even know what to think,” Trombley said. “I was basically numb.”
Said Hurricanes coach Kylie Young: “We definitely got some breaks.”
Hartford’s Julie McDermid opened the scoring during the fifth minute with a low shot from the left point past a screened Porter. U-32 answered on a power-play goal with 3 minutes, 35 seconds remaining in the first period before a soft Bazin shot from the same spot also wound up in the net fewer than two minutes into the second stanza.
The Raiders forged a 2-2 tie when Fielder slammed home a shot along the ice and from atop the crease that went through the legs of kneeling Hartford goaltender Sydney Stillman with 10 minutes remaining in the middle period. Fielder struck again less than a minute later, sliding a backhand shot past Stillman at the near post.
Hartford pulled into a 3-3 tie six minutes before the second intermission, Emma Bazin popping in a power-play rebound at the right post. Thirty-five seconds later, Morgan Ribolini fired a shot under the crossbar from close range to again give the Raiders the lead.
The Hurricanes notched the third period’s lone goal after three minutes. Madison Barwood scooted behind the net to collect an errant shot’s carom off the boards, then continued behind the cage to score on a nifty wraparound play.
“I think I was shaking from the third period on,” said Young, who helped the program to the 2002 state title game as a player. “During the second period, we started to lose our confidence and were thinking maybe we weren’t going to win this game
“Like anyone, I had my doubts, but I knew we were the better team and I’m glad it worked out that way.”
Notes: The Hurricanes will prep for the title game with a 6 a.m. practice Sunday. … Hartford’s players wore eye black, and Trombley said that choice will be repeated for their third clash with Woodstock. … Barwood committed four minor penalties Friday. One more and she would, by state rule, have had to sit out her team’s next game.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com.