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Woodstock Academy freshman Mia Auger made her debut as a member of the Centaurs Co-Op girls’ hockey team a memorable one.
Auger scored twice within a minute of each other in the third period to give the Centaurs a 3-2 victory over Simsbury in the season opener for both teams Saturday.
“What a way to make a mark on the team,” coach Eric Roy said.
Auger tied the game at two with 5 minutes, 10 seconds left in the final period with an unassisted goal.
Roy had noted that the Simsbury defensemen had been making passes inside its own zone and Auger was able to read one of those, intercepted the pass, and went in alone for the breakaway goal.
“It was hockey IQ awareness on her part,” Roy said.
Mia Williamson won the ensuing face off and got the puck to sophomore Sky Patterson who brought the puck over the blue line and found Auger streaking to the net.
The game-winner came just 49 seconds after the game-tying goal.
“For me, personally, this is my sixth year as a coach and I’ve never beaten them and they are always a perennial power in girls’ hockey. It is nice for our team to get a win like that,” Roy said.
Woodstock junior goalie Renee Porter preserved it with 24 saves.
Woodstock sophomore Ellary Sampson had given the Centaurs the 1-0 first period lead off an assist from Ledyard sophomore Stella Morrison.
“Since putting her in the leadership role as an assistant captain, she has flourished,” Roy said of Sampson. “She has taken this team under her wing and she was amazing on that play. She took the puck off the boards, had three, maybe even four, Simsbury girls draped on her and used her strength and powered her way to the net.”
Simsbury took the lead with a pair of second period goals.
It had the Centaurs worried in the locker room between periods.
“In the two years prior here, our team has not been the most resilient, we would get down on ourselves. We got into the locker room, went over what was going on and the girls had a fire in their eye. They weren’t going down without a fight,” Roy said.
The Centaurs have four games to play including home contests at the Jahn Ice Rink at Pomfret School against Smithfield (R.I) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and the Mercy/East Catholic/East Hampton co-op on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Marc Allard
Director of Sports Information
The Woodstock Academy
.