By Will Boyce ’15 | Staff Writer

On Saturday, Mar. 14, the varsity girls hockey team defeated Liggett, 2-1 to take home the D1 State Championship Title.

The Lady Blue Devils lost to Liggett during the regular season twice, and those were their only two losses as they finished the season with 19 wins and only two losses.

“We knew we were going to have to play hard the entire game, it was a very physical game,” head coach Liz Rabidoux said.

Liggett struck first, about mid way through the first period they were able to force the puck through the net. This would be their first and last goal.

“For some reason, we come out slow in the first period almost every game this year,” Rabidoux said. “We’re used to playing down, but once we get that first goal, that momentum, it’s really really nice for us.”

With 1:30 left in the first period, Lauren Kramer ‘18 scored and knotted the score up at one.

South had three power plays in the second period, and was able to break the tie on the third one. A beautiful one-time goal to the top shelf from Carson Dennis ‘17, assisted by Kramer, put the Lady Blue Devils in the lead.

The third period started and finished with a score of 2-1 in South’s favor. The Lady Blue Devils were able to kill a Liggett power play, and defend against an extra skater for the final minute of regulation when Liggett pulled their goalie.

Ellie Flom ‘15 discussed the high level of  physicality at which Liggett played, and how that translated to an intense third period. She continued to say that throughout the game, the Liggett players were shoving and punching South players, which got them fired up.

“Liggett has a very aggressive team, we had to keep playing them back and protect our goalie,” Flom said.

Current seniors on the team were a part of the 2011-2012 state championship team, and this is their second state title in four years.

“For them it’s reassuring, but for the whole team, just to open up what this feels like, we have been looking for that feeling of success,” Rabidoux said.