CHATHAM-MILLBURN GIRLS
Head coach: Kayla Meneghin, second season (8-7-2 record)
Division: NJIIHL-Cohen
Last year: Chatham-Millburn put together its second-straight winning season, as it finished 8-7-2 overall in Meneghin’s first year at the helm. It went 4-3-1 in the NJIIHL-Cohen Division, and reached the semifinals of the Cohen Cup. It reached the NJSIAA Tournament where it fell, 2-0, to Trinity Hall in the first round.
Key losses: Chatham graduated four seniors from last year’s team, most notably Maddie Jepsen (1 g., 3 a.) and Jose Pruss (1 g., 3 a.). Additionally, it lost junior forward/defenseman Bronwyn Shefter (2 g., 1 a.) to a prep school, as well as sophomore goalie Emma Acomb (.925 save percnetage in 8 games) to club hockey.
Forwards: It will return some scoring punch up front, with the return of sophomore Simone Claps (14 g., 12 a.), and junior Alexandra Donoghue (13 g., 12 a.). Sophomore Layton Thomas will also look to build off a strong freshman season in which she posted nine goals and nine assists.
Defense: Junior Sarah Nacinovich (16 g., 10 a.), as well as sophomore Maggie Breed (2 g., 3 a.) will be counted on to lead the defense. Sophomore Madilynn Ulrich posted three assists in her freshman season.
Goaltending: Junior Megan Cincotta posted an .879 save percentage while getting the bulk of the starts last winter for Chatham-Millburn, and figures to be the full-time starter this season.
Outlook: There is a lot of young talent in this program which has built itself up nicely over the past couple of seasons. It’s always a good sign when a team’s top players are sophomores and juniors, and that’s exactly the situation Chatham-Millburn finds itself in. While it will have to deal with some losses to graduation and to prep/club programs, there is a very solid core in place here that should be poised to take a big step forward this winter. It was very competitive in the Cohen Division last winter, and it has a real chance to be at or near the top of this division this season.
E-mail Mike Gurnis at michaelgurnis@gmail.com
Morris-Sussex Hockey Report 