FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. The Mid-Fairfield Stars 12-and-under hockey team advanced to the semifinals of the Tier 1 championship Saturday with a 3-0 victory over the Connecticut Northern Lights. The tournament is being played in Marlborough, Mass.
Westports Katherine Paliotta scored all three goals for the Stars, who meet Honeybaked of Farmington Hills, Mich in Sundays semifinals. The finals will be played later Sunday.
The Mid-Fairfield 14-and-under and 16-and-under teams also played in the national tournaments, but have been eliminated.
Courtney DeNaut of Greenwich recorded the shutout for the Stars, and has allowed just one goal in three games. Stamfords Caroline Silk also had a shutout in her lone tournament start for the Stars. Paliotta now leads under-12 players with nine goals. She has 11 points in the tournament, the second-highest total among U12 players.
In Saturdays game, Paliottas goal with 12:07 left in the game snapped a scoreless tie. Paliotta scored with 6:51 left, assisted by Dariens Gillis Frechette and Emma Seitz of New York. Paliottas third goal was an unassisted tally with 20 seconds left.
DeNaut made 19 saves for the Stars, who are coached by former Wilton High and UConn star Ryan Equale. He is assisted by Norwalks Moe Tarrant.
The Stars 14-and-under girls fell in overtime Saturday to the Buffalo Bison, 3-2, in the tournament quarterfinals. Ashley Carbone and Lauren Ferraiuolo scored for the Stars, who finished 2-1 in pool play. Catherine Crawley led the team in scoring during the tournament with three goals and one assist in four games.
The under-16 Stars went 1-2 during pool play and did not advance to the elimination round. Janka Hlinka had two goals and four points in the tournament for the Stars.
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