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The most successful season in the brief history of the Wilton girls hockey team came to an end Monday with a 6-3 loss to North Haven-Amity in the quarterfinals of the state tournament at Yale University.
Senior Lara Schnitzler scored three goals for the Warriors, with Emilie Arrix and Christie Huidekoper collecting assists. Goalie Vanessa Pagano played well despite the score, as the Indians capitalized on several odd-man rush opportunities. Wilton trailed 3-1 entering the third period, but the Indians quickly built the lead to 5-1 and hung on from there.
Wilton (14-6) lost its final three games of the season, including a 3-2 nail-biter against Darien in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference semifinals. Coach Kerry Leonard guided the team, which is in its third year, to a school record for victories. It won three games in its first year, and five last year. It also reached the league playoffs for the first time, and earned first-ever victories over Darien, Ridgefield and Greenwich.
The Warriors struggled down the stretch due in part to the absence of center Sammi Blicht, who missed the final few weeks with mononucleosis. The team will lose the seniors who helped bring the team together, including Schnitzler, Huidekoper, Stephanie Lash, Erica DiLello, Emily Tucker and Sabrina Bell.
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