By Ben Wistar ’26
Student Writer/Photograpeher, Bearcat Sports Media

Girls Varsity Hockey drew 4-4 against Hill after initially going down 3-0. In the third period, Caroline Bliss ’25, Bri Rockwood ’24, Captain Luna Lu ’23, and Captain Sofia Marcktell ’23 all scored goals to tie the game and eventually force the draw.

The game started with the teams testing each other, with chances coming on both sides without any goals. Goalie Steph Ionescu ’24 had several excellent saves, keeping the game scoreless in the beginning of the period. Eventually, however, Hill capitalized on one of their chances, scoring at 5:38. Hotchkiss responded by putting the pressure on, with several good chances following the Hill goal. A Hill penalty fueled the offensive pressure, but Hotchkiss was left stymied by the Hill defense.

The second period started with Hill pressuring Hotchkiss, but several good saves early by Ionescue left Hill exasperated. The momentum changed in the middle of the period, with Hotchkiss having several good chances on net, peppering the Hill goalie with shots. A combination of good goaltending and defense by Hill kept Hotchkiss scoreless, and Hill found the back of the net first, scoring with 5:27 left. Hotchkiss continued their pressure, but Hill capitalized on their counter-attack, scoring again with 1:52 remaining. The period ended with Hill up 3-0.

In the third period, Hotchkiss got the scoring underway quickly, with Bliss tallying the first of the game for Hotchkiss at 15:13. Less than two minutes later, Rockwood cut the deficit to one with her shot. A Hill penalty gave Hotchkiss more opportunities to score, and they took advantage of them, with Lu scoring just 9 seconds into the powerplay at 10:07. Hill halted the Hotchkiss momentum briefly, with a goal at 9:08, but Hotchkiss didn’t let this discourage them, and a couple minutes after, Marcktell tied the game again. Hill put the pressure on with several chances, but the Hotchkiss defense refused to break, and the third period ended 4-4.

The overtime period was back and forth, with a Hotchkiss penalty giving Hill the advantage for a time, but no goals would result, and the game ended 4-4.

This game showed the impressive resolve of the squad, with the team demonstrating their ability to battle back from behind. The draw puts their record at 4-9-2, and they will hope to improve this at their next game away at Greenwich Country Day.