HIGH SCHOOL ICE HOCKEY: Adirondack United win…
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HIGH SCHOOL ICE HOCKEY: Adirondack United win home opener 10-1 over Beekmantown
The Adirondack United girls' hockey team picked up a 10-1 victory in their home opener against Beekmantown on Saturday, December 3 at the Glens Falls Recreation Center. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
By Kyle Adams | kadams@saratogian.com | The Saratogian
GLENS FALLS, NY – The wait is finally over. The Adirondack United took the ice for the first time at home on Saturday afternoon, officially bringing girls' hockey to Section II.
"We were all definitely really excited. It was our home opener and we had a lot to prove, being the first team to do this," said Queensbury's Bayley Duffy. "We were very excited."
The United picked up their second win of the season, with an emphatic 10-1 victory over Beekmantown.
The Adirondack United girls' hockey team picked up a 10-1 victory in their home opener against Beekmantown on Saturday, December 3 at the Glens Falls Recreation Center. (Photo by Kyle Adams)
Duffy put in half of those goals, as the Queensbury junior found the net five times, while also contributing an assist.
The Adirondack scored three times in the first period, with the first goal coming from Duffy. Queensbury's Emily Macaulay and Saratoga's Jenna Amodio also scored in the period.
"It's really exciting coming out here, being a part of the first girls team in Section 2 history," Amodio said. "Our last overtime win against Skaneateles really got us going and put us in the winning mindset."
In their first game on November 23, the United defeated Skaneateles, the defending state champions, by a score of 2-1 in overtime. Amodio scored the first goal in that game, while Gianna Marcantonio (Queensbury) put in the game-winner.
Duffy scored United's lone goal of the third period on Saturday, before they went off for six goals in the third.
Marcantonio scored got the scoring started in the third period, before Duffy scored three in a row. Saratoga's Amelia Laszewski and South Glens Falls' Lillian Willis rounded out the scoring for Adirondack.
"It really showed the teams around us and the rest of the state that we're not joking around here," Duffy said of the big win. "It felt like I had something to prove; nothing more than that. We were all excited and ready to go."
"I love playing with her. This is a really good opportunity to be on the ice with her," Amodio said of Duffy. "She can pass, she can skate; she's got it all going. It's not only her being a good player, but she's a good teammate and she's easy to work with."
The Adirondack United team was officially announced in September, combining six school districts. Those districts include Corinth, Glens Falls, Hudson Falls, Saratoga Springs, South Glens Falls and Queensbury.
This has been a program's that's been years in the making, but was derailed for awhile due to the pandemic.
"It's extremely important being a part of this team," said goalie Regan Gecewicz, a senior from Saratoga. "When I was in eighth grade and I moved to Saratoga, I had talked to one of my teachers and he asked me how I would feel about being part of a girls high school team. I thought he was joking, but now it's my senior year and I finally get to be a part of it, the first year ever."
"I've been waiting for this for awhile."
Bayley Duffy (@QbyAthletics) scored 5 goals & 1 assist.
All 5 ⚡️ got in on the action. Jenna Amodio & Amelia Laszewski each scored in the 10-1 victory. Alyssa Temple & Emily Kelsey each had assists and Regan Gecewicz spent a good amount of the game in goal. https://t.co/8UCJS90WGm
— Kyle Adams (@kasportsnews) December 3, 2022
Gecewicz and Laura Dickerson (Queensbury) combined for 12 saves in the net on Saturday. Saratoga's Alyssa Temple and Emily Kelsey also contributed assists.
"The energy was amazing," Gecewicz said. "We never let up. It was the same from out first goal to our tenth goal and I think that's the best part of out team, that we kept up the energy the the whole game and everyone got to contribute."
The United (2-0) will head back on the road for their next game on December 7 at Saranac Lake at 5 p.m. They return home to the Glens Falls Recreation Center on December 10 for a game against Malone at 3:30 p.m.
ADIRONDACK 10, BEEKMANTOWN 1
BEEKMANTOWN 0-1-0 — 1
ADIRONDACK 3-1-6 — 10
Glens Falls Recreation Center
Adirondack United: Bayley Duffy (QBY) 5-1; Emily Macaulay (QBY) 1-0; Jenna Amodio (TOGA) 1-0; Gianna Marcantonio (QBY) 1-0; Amelia Laszewski (TOGA) 1-0; Lillian Willis (SGF) 1-3; Alyssa Temple (TOGA) 0-1; Jessica Freebern (COR) 0-1; Tekla Fine-Lease (QBY) 0-1; Emily Kelsey (TOGA) 0-1
Beekmantown: Michaela Bresnahan 1-0; Rachel Madore 0-1
Kyle Adams
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