Two new banners hang in the Clinton Arena and the game that followed showed why.
A banner commemorating last year’s state championship captured by the Clinton girls ice hockey team in their fifth year of play, along with a sectional banner, grace the walls of the 2018 Kraft Hockeyville ice rink. The banner ceremony followed the Senior Night recognition for the team’s four seniors: Mia Lopata and Madison Dery of Clinton, Perri Cronk of VVS and Ariel Williamson from RFA.
The team, comprised of players from six schools, puts together a well-balanced lineup, led by several members from last year’s state title team and four first-year players, including eighth grade goalie Casey Clausen of Whitesboro.
Clinton dominated on offense vs. Ithaca, rarely seeing the puck near Clausen, who stepped up for saves on all nine shots on goal. At the other end, the Warriors found the net five times for the win.
Two quick first-period goals, one by Lopata, put Clinton in command for the rest of the game. The Warriors banged out 30 shots on goal.
Several of those shots that missed came close to sliding in, with Lopata whiplashing a shot near the end of the first period that deflected off a defender’s skate.
Clinton played relentless on offense for first-year coach Melissa Lomanto. That also showed with five players scoring a goal, and four with assists.
Along with Lopata, who will be suiting up for Quinnipiac for the next four years, goals came from Clinton players Finley Davignon and Sadie Davignon, a sophomore with her first varsity goal. Also scoring were Williamson and Drew Kopek, also a sophomore from RFA.
Lopata, Kopek, Alyssa Nardslico and Dery all had assists.
The Warriors made it...