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Philipp propels San Jose Sharks to first girls 12-U Tier II National Championship

By Bruceo Bourquin, 04/03/11, 11:15AM MDT

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Laurel Philipp picked the right time to play a gem of game. Philipp made 17 saves to help the Sharks win the USA Hockey Girls 12-Under Tier II National Championship on Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. Alexandra Anderson’s goal 1:06 into overtime on an assist from Sabina King was all Philipp needed in a 1-0 win over the East Coast Wizards from Massachusetts.


The Wizards outshot the Sharks 17-8, but Philipp was the difference. Philipp also came up big in a 3-1 semifinal win Saturday over the New England Junior Falcons, when she made 15 saves.

“The Wizards are pretty good,” Philipp said. “They had some nice slap shots.”

Phillip was also happy her team won a national championship.

“It’s so awesome, because we’ve never been in Nationals before,” she said.

Anderson scored her third goal of the tournament.

“I never thought we’d get this far. It’s amazing,” she said.

Philipp made one of her best saves with less than two minutes to play in regulation. With the Wizards on the power play, she made one save, then another with a crowd in front. The Wizards took three shots within a minute, but could not get past Philipp.

“All the girls are disappointed,” East Coast coach Mark Lissner said. “They gave everything they had. I think we did [control the game]. We didn’t get one to bounce in the back of the net. We played our hearts out.”

With 8:56 to play in the third period, Wizards forward Emily Smith got past three Sharks, but Philipp made a glove save.

Three minutes later, Rachel Peacock took a shot that Philipp also saved. Philipp followed that with a stick save and a pad save.

The Wizards had their best scoring chance with 8:35 left in the first period. Carmen Braceras feathered a puck that slid across the crease.

In the second period, Wizards goaltender Kylie Ham stopped Dominika Reusche, who led the tournament with eight goals and 11 points, from point-blank range.

The Wizards’ Casey Freehill had a tournament-best six assists.

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.