Published: 1/18/2021 6:16:58 PM
The Pope Francis girls hockey team officially took the ice for the first game in program history on Monday.
The Cardinals are just the second all-girls hockey team in Western Mass., with the team comprised of a co-op between 10 schools — including Amherst, Frontier, Hopkins Academy and Northampton. They were approved to join the Central Massachusetts League in June.
Pope Francis took on Longmeadow, the other all-girls squad in Western Mass., in its inaugural game at Amelia Park Arena in Westfield. A late goal from the Cardinals forced a 4-4 tie between the two sides.
Lily Hayes, Eleanor Jacoby, Mia Alfonso and Madeline Rawling all found the back of the net for Pope Francis, with Kellie Harrington, Alfonso (2), Nadiya Champigny picking up assists.
Northampton’s Rowan Howe came away with 23 saves in the tie for the Cardinals, turning in a strong performance against her former team as she was the backup goalie for the Lancers last season.