Naper Valley wins Blackhawk Cup

The co-op Naper Valley Wildcats girls hockey team had an un-four-gettable Friday night at the United Center.

In the team's fourth year of existence, the Wildcats used 2 goals and an assist from Kelly Seymour - who wears uniform No. 4 - to defeat Lake Forest 5-1 and win the Blackhawk Cup.

This was Naper Valley's first win in four attempts over Lake Forest this season as the Scouts had a 2-0-1 season series edge heading into the title tilt.

But the Wildcats won - by a 4-goal differential - when it mattered most, in the state championship game.

"It was a great game," said Seymour, who attends Oswego East. "I think the difference was, we wanted to win a lot more than (Lake Forest), and that clearly showed on the scoreboard. We wanted the goals, went hard to the net and we finished."

After a scoreless first period Seymour broke the ice with an unassisted tally at 11:48 of the second. Kelly Galiniak made it 2-0 in favor of the Wildcats, scoring 10 seconds later off an assist from Halley Baker.

"That doesn't usually happen with our team, so I was really surprised that we got two back-to-back goals. But that really gave us momentum," Seymour said.

Added Naper Valley head coach Tom Clarke: "I thought we were real nervous in the first period. After the second goal, I think we really settled down."

Tala Gallaga made it 3-0 at 7:47 of the second period, scoring a rebound assisted by Melissa Clarke.

"That (goal) was real exciting," Gallaga said. "I just kept thinking, 'I have this, I've got this,' and then I shot it in. But I was so nervous."

Lake Forest made it 3-1 at 6:10 of the second period when Marie Soukup beat Wildcats goalie Megan Brantley on assists from Lucy Baron and Katie Sullivan.

"We just played as a team tonight and got it done. It's amazing," said Gallaga, a junior at Neuqua Valley.

"Once we got our momentum going, we just kept going and kept getting the goals," Seymour said. "I'm really happy that we won. It's a good thing for our organization. We've always had our (state tournament run) cut short in the semifinals. Finally we made it here and won."

Baker gave the Wildcats a 4-1 edge with a tally at 2:27 of the second, assisted by Galiniak. Seymour scored the victors final goal unassisted at 6:26 of the third.

"I'm really excited," said Brantley (Naperville Central). "It was a big accomplishment winning against them. I was shaking before I got on the ice, and I'm still shaking. My legs are shaking; my arms are shaking. It's really exciting."

Lake Forest goalie Hannah Redden made 26 saves to Brantley's 15.

"This is the best moment," said Galiniak (Hinsdale South). "Before the game we weren't nervous at all. If we were nervous at all, it was good nerves; we were so pumped. This is the perfect way to end my hockey career."

The Wildcats finished 22-5-2, while the Scouts end 18-5-4.

"It was a tough loss, but the thing that I'm most happy about is we made it this far," said Lake Forest forward Julia Muscarello. "We just didn't have our best game, but I look at the success of the whole season, not just this one game. It was a really great season."