New Varsity Co-op Including Suffield Makes Debut

ENFIELD, CT — A new era dawned Saturday in local high school sports, as a girls ice hockey team comprised of players from five area schools made its varsity debut at the Enfield Twin Rinks.

The new squad is called Suffield, but also contains players from Enfield, Ellington, Housatonic Regional and the Metropolitan Learning Center.

In its initial varsity outing, the former club team received a pair of goals from Molly Dowd and 20 saves by goalkeeper Caitlyn Caldon to defeat Avon/Southington/East Granby/RHAM by a 4-2 count.

Grace Gozzi tallied the first varsity goal in program history, while Nora Birmingham also found the back of the net.

The team formed as a club in 2016-17 and performed well, compiling a 15-4 record. After just one season as a club, the program was elevated to varsity status this year, with 18 players on its roster.

"The players are super excited," head coach Joe Gozzi said. "We had a great record as a club team last year, and all the girls are super competitive. We have three or four girls who may play at the college level."

High-scoring senior Ana Tittmann, who is committed to Manhattanville, is expected to lead the team alongside senior Molly Dowd and junior standout Sophie Lupone. The team also returns the strong defensive sister duo of Taylor and Tori Geaglone, along with returning seniors Caldon, Gozzi, Meg Leonardi, Julia Nicolescu and Sydney Lupone.

Suffield will be competing in the Southern Connecticut Conference, North Division, along with Simsbury, Avon/Southington/East Granby/RHAM, Northwest Catholic/Mercy, East Catholic/Glastonbury/South Windsor and Hall/Conard.

"The governing body that operates girls ice hockey for high schools in Connecticut is being open-minded with the process and what towns you can work with," Joe Gozzi said. "They're doing a great job at expansion of the sport."

Gozzi said the excitement about the new program extends to the coaches and parents as well.

"The parents have been great, especially having to drive the kids to the practices," he said. "The coaches are really excited as well. We're going to take it one game at a time."

The majority of the team's home games will be in Enfield, although the next matchup Wednesday against Northwest Catholic/Mercy will take place at the Loomis Chaffee rink at 5 p.m. Another home game will be played Jan. 4 at Simsbury Farms.

For the complete season schedule, click here.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen