BURLINGTON – Hazen Union sophomore Paige Cruickshank and her U-32 girls hockey team’s Division II championship run came to an end over the weekend against Hartford at University of Vermont’s Gutterson Fieldhouse.
Hartford captured their fourth straight state title on Sunday, knocking off the top-seeded Lady Raiders 5-1 on Sunday night. Eighth grader Johanna Kissell recorded a hat-trick and teammates Ali Morlock and Aubree Vail scored a goal apiece to power No. 2 Hartford. Despite being outshot 2-to-1 in the heavyweight championship bout, Aubree Gramling was up for the challenge, turning away 29 shots. The Lady Raiders were seeking their first state title in 15 years.
Four days earlier, Cruickshank recorded an assist in a 5-3 semifinal win over fifth seeded Middlebury. U-32 will graduate six seniors as their season came to an end at 15-7-1.
