Shanahan-Downingtown East uses Sano’s hat trick to capture Ches-Mont National title

WEST GOSHEN >> Since the Flyers Cup does not let combined teams compete, this was the end of the road for the Shanahan-Downingtown East girls ice hockey team and they made sure it was paved in goal.

Jillian Sano registered a hat trick to lead Shanahan-East to the Ches-Mont National title with a 4-1 victory over Avon Grove at Ice Line on Thursday.

“It feels good,” Sano said of her hat trick.

Shanahan-East didn’t waste much time getting on the scoreboard as Katie Graf took a pass from Lillian Binns and from behind the net, banked it in off goalie Ella Hydutsky just 1:07 into the game for an early 1-0 lead.

Avon Grove equalized almost nine minutes later. A pass in the Shan-East end got tipped in the air and landed in front of Maggiue Sullivan, who backhanded it into the empty net.

But the Red Devils soon found themselves behind again, when Sano took a feed from Gracie Jermyn, made a move on Hydutsky and slipped it by her to give Shan-East a lead they would never relinquinsh.

“It’s always important to get that first goal,” said Shan-East coach Mark Jermyn. “You can control the game instead of having to chase it.”

After a three-goal first period, the second was devoid of tallies. Avon Grove did have some chances, but goalie Olivia

Cegila made the stops when she had to, including a two-save combination at the buzzer.

“Absolutely,” Jermyn said about Cegila. “She’s made the big save for us the whole postseason and she really came on strong at the end of the season.”

With Shan-East nursing a one-goal lead, they got a little breathing space midway through the third as Cegila sped into slot, and went backhand to forehand to put it into the empty net.

Sano completed her hat trick with two minutes left to seal the victory and the let the celebrations begin.

“It felt pretty good. I’m real proud of my teammates,” said Binnes, who had three assists. “We were pretty much trying to keep it off our side of the ice when it was a one-goal game, and do the best we can.”

For Shan-East, the championship was the first as a combined team and it made a perfect ending to its season.

“I’ve been coaching these girls for four years now, so I’m happy,” said Jermyn. “This is probably my last season because my daughter (Gracie Jermyn) is a senior, so it’s a great way to go out, getting a championship for these girls.”

Shanahan-East 4, Avon Grove 1
Avon Grove 1 0 0 — 1
Bishop Shanahan 2 0 2 — 4
Avon Grove goal: Sullivan.
Shanahan-East goals: Sano 3, Graf.
Goalie saves: Hydutsky (AG) 9; Cegila (S-E) 20.