Thunderbirds edge Warwick

By RYAN D. MURRAY
Posted 2/13/19

By RYAN D. MURRAY The Cranston/East Greenwich Thunderbirds Girl's Hockey co-op clinched the playoffs for the first time in five years on Sunday night when they edged out the Warwick Lady Titans 2-1 during senior night at Cranston Veterans Memorial Ice

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Thunderbirds edge Warwick

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The Cranston/East Greenwich Thunderbirds Girl’s Hockey co-op clinched the playoffs for the first time in five years on Sunday night when they edged out the Warwick Lady Titans 2-1 during senior night at Cranston Veterans Memorial Ice Rink.

“This game was for the seniors,” Lady Thunderbirds head coach PJ Bessette said. “They’ve worked hard for four years with no reward. And, with this game they were guaranteed a playoff spot. So their hard work for the last four years cumulated with this game.”

It is the first time in Bessette’s five-year coaching span that the team has reached the postseason.

The Thunderbirds were led by senior Abbi Sampson, the league’s fourth-leading scorer, who recorded both of Cranston/EG’s goals.

“It feels great,” Sampson said. “We’ve been working for this all season. And, to finally actually do it on senior night is pretty amazing. It’s a great feeling.”

The boards were decorated with signs for all eight seniors and the stands were packed.

“I wouldn’t want to do it in front of anyone else,” Sampson said. “My family, my friends. I’ve got to thank them for everything that they’ve done, supporting me through everything.”

After a scoreless first period, Sampson put the Thunderbirds on the scoreboard at 9:12 of the second when she punched in a loose puck from point-blank range after assists from Lindsey Brady and Olivia Santurri.

Warwick got even at 2:33 of the third period when with a man advantage, Kaylee O’Connor, a senior, lit the lamp following assists from Nicole Procaccini and Ella Centracchio.

Regardless, six minutes later, Sampson, netted what proved to be the game-winning tally, when she scored during a scrum in front on a powerplay, after assists from Brady and Alexia Bessette.

Hannah Slaiby, a senior, made 24 saves in net for Cranston/EG, while Rebecca Yaseen, also a senior, made 23 stops for the Lady Titans.

It was the same result as when the Thunderbirds went to Warwick’s Thayer Arena a month ago.

“It’s always a close game with Warwick no matter what year it is,” Bessette said. “But, this year we got the best of them in both games, 2-1. Hard fought games. We score a powerplay goal to win the game, they score a power play goal to tie it. So, it was a game of inches. So, I’m very proud of these kids.”

Cranston/EG has been without its freshman prospect Abbi Ainley since she suffered a concussion in a game against La Salle Academy on January 26. The team hopes to have Ainley back in time for the playoffs, which begin on March 1.

The Thunderbirds finish the regular season with a record of 5-9 in Division I and 6-10 overall.

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