GameTime CT

Connecticut's premier high school sports website

  • GIRLS SPORTS
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Field Hockey
    • Golf
    • Gymnastics
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Softball
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Volleyball
    • Track & Field
  • BOYS SPORTS
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Cross Country
    • Football
    • Golf
    • Hockey
    • Indoor Track
    • Lacrosse
    • Soccer
    • Swimming
    • Tennis
    • Track & Field
    • Volleyball
    • Wrestling
  • Schools
  • Newspapers
    • CT Post
    • The Danbury News-Times
    • Greenwich Time
    • The Middletown Press
    • New Haven Register
    • The Norwalk Hour
    • The Register Citizen
    • The Stamford Advocate
  • Polls
    • Baseball Top 10
    • Boys Basketball Top 10
    • Girls Basketball Top 10
    • Football Top 10
    • Hockey Top 10
    • Boys Lacrosse Top 10
    • Softball Top 10
    • Other Polls
  • Scores & Stats
Girls Hockey

New Canaan girls hockey gets first win in Greenwich since 2016

Dave Stewart | February 23, 2021

14
New Canaan's Kaleigh Harden (4) skates with the puck while holding off Greenwich's Tess Marciano (13) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.
1of14

New Canaan’s Kaleigh Harden (4) skates with the puck while holding off Greenwich’s Tess Marciano (13) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Greenwich goalie Hannah Goldenberg keeps her eyes on the puck as New Canaan pressures during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.
2of14

Greenwich goalie Hannah Goldenberg keeps her eyes on the puck as New Canaan pressures during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
3of14
New Canaan's Kaleigh Harden (4) skates with the puck while holding off Greenwich's Tess Marciano (13) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.
4of14

New Canaan’s Kaleigh Harden (4) skates with the puck while holding off Greenwich’s Tess Marciano (13) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday.

David Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Greenwich's Tess Marciano (13) passes the puck into the zone as New Canaan's Caitlin Tully pursues during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
5of14

Greenwich's Tess Marciano (13) passes the puck into the zone as New Canaan's Caitlin Tully pursues during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
6of14
New Canaan's Kaleigh Harden (4) controls the puck against Greenwich during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
7of14

New Canaan's Kaleigh Harden (4) controls the puck against Greenwich during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
Greenwich goalie Hannah Goldenberg covers the puck against New Canaan during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
8of14

Greenwich goalie Hannah Goldenberg covers the puck against New Canaan during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
9of14
New Canaan goalie Blythe Novick covers the puck against Greenwich during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
10of14

New Canaan goalie Blythe Novick covers the puck against Greenwich during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
New Canaan's Grace Flatow (14) battles Greenwich's Emiri Fukichi (17) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
11of14

New Canaan's Grace Flatow (14) battles Greenwich's Emiri Fukichi (17) during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
12of14
Greenwich's Lily Bates (20) and New Canaan's Caitlin Tully (15) battle along the boards during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.
13of14

Greenwich's Lily Bates (20) and New Canaan's Caitlin Tully (15) battle along the boards during a girls ice hockey game at Hamill Rink in Greenwich on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Dave Stewart / Hearst Connecticut MediaShow MoreShow Less
14of14

GREENWICH — Playing in Greenwich has typically not worked out well for the New Canaan girls ice hockey team.

In fact, despite losing just 18 games over the past four seasons combined, the Rams were 0-3-1 while visiting the Cardinals.

Given that recent track record, New Canaan coach Rich Bulan had plenty to smile about after his Rams scored a 2-0 victory over Greenwich at Hamill Skating Rink on Tuesday.

“We historically do not play well here,” Bulan said. “We lost those two (Winter Classic) outdoor games and then the year before that they snuck up on us and beat us (at Hamill). So I’m happy with this. We were on them a lot and even when we broke down, somebody back-checked, somebody picked up the open player, or the defense stepped up. It was a nice effort.”

The victory was the fourth straight for New Canaan (5-1) since a 2-1 loss to Darien.

The Rams had plenty of opportunities against Greenwich, outshooting the Cards 39-11 and getting goals from senior co-captain Courtney O’Connell in the first period and junior Grace Flatow in the third.

“The past few games, we’ve started to get our mojo back,” junior Grace Crowell, who assisted on O’Connell’s goal, said. “This game was really fun — just a really great game all-around.”

Greenwich, which fell to 3-2, has been struggling to find its stride, but coach Alex Lerchen liked the intensity the Cards showed.

“We obviously played a lot of defense tonight,” Lerchen said. “We gave them a couple of opportunities early and we were kind of scrambling, but from an intensity standpoint, we were hustling and we’ve kind of been missing that from our game for a little bit. We’re happy we matched their intensity and gave them a run tonight.”

Goalie Hannah Goldenberg racked up 37 saves while under fire for much of the game and kept the Cards within striking distance.

“She’s a gamer,” Lerchen said of the senior co-captain. “I’ve said that year after year and now she’s a senior, and she’s a captain. She’s calm and composed and always gives us a chance to pull out a win.”

The Rams scored early when O’Connell scored during a scramble at 3:06 of the opening period.

Despite dominating the shots and chances, New Canaan was shut out for the remainder of the first period and the entirety of the second. For Greenwich, Delaney Roth, Tess Marciano and Emiri Fukichi led the defensive effort in front of Goldenberg.

The Cards missed an opportunity to tie the game when New Canaan was hit with two penalties late in the second period, resulting in an extended power play and a 30-second 5-on-3. Greenwich came up empty.

“During the penalties, it’s nerve-wracking,” Crowell said. “But we did a good job with the penalty kill trying to get it out, dumping it. We did well with that.”

New Canaan’s line of Crowell, O’Connell, and junior Kaleigh Harden generated some prime opportunities, but it was Flatow putting the second goal on the board with an assist from Kelly Benson early in the third.

“This is what we’ve been doing the past three games,” Bulan said. “We were swarming and we were playing the way we can and I was really happy with that. Would I have liked to have seen more goals? Heck yeah, but I’ll take the win.”

Lerchen is hoping Greenwich can build off its performance, despite the loss.

“We knew this group was capable of more and we got out-worked a few games,” Lerchen said. “We knew we’d have to bring our best tonight and the girls did. I give them a lot of credit for competing and doing their best out there.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Grace Crowell, New Canaan: Crowell was a key part of a New Canaan offense which was on the attack for nearly the entire game. The junior also assisted on the game’s first goal, scored by Courtney O’Connell.

QUOTABLE

“It’s fun for them. They love the way they’re playing, and they’re excited with how they look. I’m so happy we’re having a season and that they have something to play for. They are not taking anything for granted.” — New Canaan coach Rich Bulan

David.Stewart@hearstmediact; @dstewartsports

NEW CANAAN 2, GREENWICH 0

NEW CANAAN 1 0 1 — 2
GREENWICH 0 0 0 — 0
Scoring: First period: NC – Courtney O’Connell (Grace Crowell) 3:06; Third period: NC – Grace Flatow (Kelly Benson) 1:55; Goalies: NC – Blythe Novick 11 saves; G – Hannah Goldenberg 37 saves.
Records: New Canaan 5-1; Greenwich 3-2.

About Dave Stewart

Slam Dunk 2

Newsletter Signup

Don't strike out on CT high school sports news. Sign up for The Whistle newsletter from GametimeCT

You agree to our Terms of Use. Your information will be used as described in our Privacy Policy.

TeamPlayer Scores and Stats search

Scores and Stats

Video

Podcasts

Winter 2021 Preview Links

Winter Sports 2021 Links

BOYS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 CIAC PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS BASKETBALL
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
5 STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS HOCKEY
PRESEASON TOP 10
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
GIRLS HOCKEY
15 PLAYERS TO WATCH
STORY LINES TO WATCH
CONFERENCE OUTLOOKS
BOYS SWIMMING
25 SWIMMERS TO WATCH
GYMNASTICS
15 GYMNASTS TO WATCH

Fall Sports Quick Links

Fall Sports Quick Links

2021 FOOTBALL COLLEGE RECRUITING LIST
2020 GAMETIMECT ALL-STATE TEAMS
BOYS SOCCER
GIRLS SOCCER
FIELD HOCKEY
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
2020 LEAGUE PLAYOFFS:
Central Connecticut
Fairfield County
Shoreline Conference
Southern Connecticut
South-West Conference

Twitter

Tweets

Polls

Who has the best uniforms?

Loading ... Loading ...
Follow Us
© Copyright 2017 Hearst Media Services Connecticut, LLC