Utica Jr. Comets 12U Tier I Girls Capture First-Ever State Championship

Utica, NY – The Utica Jr. Comets 12U Girls made history on Saturday, securing the organization’s first-ever state championship with a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Skaneateles Lakers in the USA Hockey-New York State Amateur Hockey Association (NYSAHA) Tier I Championship.

Competing in a three-team round-robin tournament at Cornerstone CFCU Arena, the Jr. Comets earned their spot in the title game with a 4-2 win over the Westchester Express on Friday.

Goaltenders Addison Brennen and Callie Lamie played pivotal roles, each backstopping the team to must-win victories. The Jr. Comets closed out their impressive 2024-25 campaign with a 45-13-4-1 record, facing opponents from 12 different states and provinces over the course of 63 games.

Game 1 Recap – Utica Jr. Comets 4, Westchester Express 2

The Jr. Comets wasted no time getting on the board, as Claire Barber buried a quick snapshot just 43 seconds into the game. Elliana Symenow set up the play, collecting a rebound after an initial chance by Annika Symenow.

In the second period, Rachel Adams redirected a Layla Townsend point shot to an awaiting Eissen Gooldy, who tapped it in to extend the lead to 2-0 at 6:36. Barber struck again before the period ended, netting an unassisted, tough-angle goal to make it 3-0.

Westchester got on the board early in the third, but Audilynn Ford responded just 42 seconds later with a power-play goal, sealing the victory.

Game 2 Recap – Utica Jr. Comets 4, Skaneateles Lakers 3

After falling behind 1-0 early, Townsend evened the score with a top-shelf wrist shot from between the circles. Moments later, Josslyn Tyczinski one-timed a backhand feed from Ford, capitalizing on a strong cycle play by Arya Varano to give Utica a 2-1 advantage. Less than a minute later, Gooldy sprung Adams on a breakaway, where she buried a shot low blocker-side to extend the lead to 3-1.

Skaneateles cut the deficit to 3-2 late in the first, but Adams responded with the eventual game-winner 22 seconds into the second period off a setup from Ella Cidzik.

The Lakers pulled within one midway through the third, but the Jr. Comets’ defense—anchored by Norah Collis, Udele Cornish, Rowan Hockman, Peyton St. Pierre, and Townsend—clamped down. With committed backchecking from the entire forward group, Utica limited Skaneateles to just one shot on goal over the final eight-plus minutes to secure the championship.