NEWARK, NJ — Less than 24 hours after the New York Sirens battled their way to a 6-2 victory in front of a record crowd on the same ice, the Immaculate Heart Academy Blue Eagles reached a milestone of their own. After coming up empty against Pingry and Princeton Day in the past two seasons, IHA seized the crown for themselves, toppling the mighty Morristown-Beard School 3-1.
The scoring began early in the first period with a sensational individual effort from Mo-Beard freshman star Sophia DeLaura. Carving through a pair of IHA defenders, she beat Madison Graves top shelf just inside the far post. That was the last time they’d get one past her.
After a silent first frame, the Blue Eagles responded with a below the crossbar snipe of their own from freshman Julia Bussanich – her team-leading 18th of the season. IHA’s next goal was easily the most impressive of the bout, with veteran Delany Cozine adding an immaculate goal on the power play off a gorgeous feed from fellow junior Savannah Springstead.
Cozine sealed it with an empty-netter with sixty seconds remaining, clinching the title as a forward, after minding the net in this game two years ago.
Special teams played a big role in the contest, with IHA converting once on a pair of chances, and the Crimson failing on a single attempt.
Despite several pretty goals, the star of the show was clearly sophomore goaltender for IHA Madison Graves. She held the line as her team got outshot 32-16, snagging saves left and right against a team averaging over five goals per contest.
“The lost last year got us to be stronger this year,” Graves said, “…we know what it’s like to be a loser and we know what it’s like to be a winner. We came in very humble…and it was a lot easier.”
Graves received the finals MVP award from Sirens captain Micah Zandee-Hart, helping capitalize not just on IHA’s win, but in what’s been an outstanding time for women’s sports in the tri-state area.
“We’ve got Gotham [FC] coming up with their season opener soon and they’ll get to raise their banner, Unrivaled was here not too long ago in Brooklyn, so I think women’s sports in this area is popping off right now.”
And IHA will certainly be popping off back in Bergen County after a victory that’s been a long time coming.
