In a re-match of the Elite 8 quarterfinals last year, Deerfield took on a speedy and talented Andover squad at home on Saturday afternoon. The visitors controlled the pace and play in the first period and the beginning of the second, but Campbell Krotee ’25 held strong in goal. We started to find our legs in the second frame, and the game turned into a fast, back-and-forth affair with both teams generating chances. Our forwards were relentless on the forecheck, and we played with poise and smarts in the defensive zone, picking up sticks and bodies in front and limiting rebound chances. Eventually, with about two minutes left in the third period, Peyton Wierl ’26 poked a puck loose that Brady Wierl chased down the ice. The Andover goalie came out to play the puck, but Brady quickly corralled it and found the back of the net, sending the bench into a frenzy. We made things interesting by taking a penalty thirty seconds later, but a heroic effort by Krotee and our penalty killers blocking shots kept Andover off of the scoreboard. This was a wonderful team win, with every player offering maximum effort from start to finish. Ava “the disrupter” Giroux ’26 was the hard hat recipient for her relentless pressure and willingness to sacrifice for the team. We have one more game before Long Winter Weekend: St. Paul’s on the road on Wednesday.
