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It took the New Canaan High School girls hockey team just 46 seconds Saturday night to show previously unbeaten Wilton that the Rams were serious about defending their state championship.
Jana Persky scored 28 seconds into the game and again just 18 seconds later as the Rams improved to 8-1 with a convincing 8-2 victory. Persky scored three goals and Olivia Hompe dished out five assists in the battle of FCIAC powers at Stamford's Terry Conners Rink. Wilton fell to 6-1.
The Warriors were without four players from their lineup for various reasons, and the lack of depth hurt them. So did the Rams' fast start.
"Once we kind of realized that OK, this is how we have to play, we settled in,'' Wilton coach Kerry Leonard said. "This is the first time we have faced a team like this all year. I was impressed by them, especially their top line."
Persky scored three goals and Bea Eppler added a pair for the Rams, who also got goals from Bianca Schultz, Madzie Carroll and Corbett Ripley.
Lara Schnitzler scored both of Wilton's goals. Her shorthanded tally with 10:54 left in the second period provided a momentary spark for the Warriors, trimming New Canaan's lead to 4-1. The Rams responded with two power plays in the final three minutes of the period to take a commanding 6-1 lead into the third.
Vanessa Pagano also played well in goal for the Warriors, making 33 saves. She made several big stops in the first period and early in the second to keep it at 2-0 for more than 15 minutes. Wilton could not capitalize on a power play early in the second, and two New Canaan goals shortly afterward put the Rams in complete control.
"I think a lot of the girls were frustrated,'' Leonard said. "They know we were capable of more. We just didn't have it tonight."
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