Robitzers, Unionville cruise past Rustin for another Flyers Cup girls title
PHILADELPHIA >> One team was there to complete yet another championship season. The other was there for a new experience, that it hopes will lead to bigger things back on home ice.
Mission accomplished, on both fronts.
Reigning girls powerhouse Unionville cruised to a 5-0 win over Ches-Mont foe West Chester Rustin in Sunday’s Flyers Cup final at Wells Fargo Center, its fifth straight crown.
But on the other bench, shorthanded Rustin kept its spirits high. The girls still enjoyed the experience and the chance to compete against a girls hockey dynasty that has won nine out of ten Flyers Cups.
“This was our first year playing in the Flyers Cup championship,” said Rustin head coach Dan Simcox. “I told them that with a short bench they played with a lot of grit and determination against a dynasty.”
Unionville dominated the Golden Knights with freshman Lily Robitzer providing all the offense the Indians would need just 35 seconds into the game. Samantha Bucci and Aurora Mcdevitt would also score in the period as the Indians outshot the Golden Knights 11-4 and led 3-0 at the end of the first.
The Golden Knights would actually outshoot the Indians, 22-18, the rest of the way, but the Indians were the ones who capitalized. Kat Tuerff scored two more goals for Unionville in the third period to squash any hopes Rustin had at a late comeback. Goalie Mattie Robitzer managed to put up an impressive shutout for Unionville, stopping all of Rustin’s 26 shots.
“It’s great just being here let alone having a shutout,” said Mattie Robitzer. “It’s awesome. I’ve always wanted to play here. My sister got to play when we were little and I didn’t so it’s been a while.”
Unionville left with another title, but even while winning titles, the Indians have a stake in seeing the other girls teams in southeastern Pa. — especially nearby neighbors like Rustin — build their programs to provide a challenge for the perennial powerhouse at Unionville.
“It was a fantastic experience and it was a rebuilding year for us, to have this experience is new for a whole slew of girls,” said Unionville head coach Dave Impagliazzo. “We have had a really strong team but last year we lost eight seniors so we have seven new skaters, so this is the first Flyers Cup for us with a new crop of girls; who are the new champs.”
Note >> This year’s Flyers Cup field consisted of only three teams — Unionville, West Chester Rustin and West Chester East — largely because of Flyers Cup eligibility rules. For example, teams are not allowed into the bracket if they draw players from more than one high school.
Unionville 5, West Chester Rustin 0
Rustin 0 0 0 — 0
Unionville 3 0 2 — 5
Unionville goals: Robitzer, Bucci, Mcdevitt, Tuerff 2
Goalie saves: Harkins (R) 24, Robitzer (U) 26
