Newtown High girls' hockey players who are part of the Masuk of Monroe-led co-op squad, helped the Panthers to victory when they hit the ice for the final time this winter.

The Panthers concluded the season with a 7-4 win over Lauralton Hall of Milford in a scrimmage, at The Rinks at Shelton, on February 16.

This game was already deemed a forfeit win for the Panthers, Masuk's third of the season, since Lauralton fielded a very small lineup this winter.

Newtown's Catie Gregory had a goal and an assist in the win. Shannon Maxey and Mackenzie Ciambra both scored twice, and Angie Porcaro, and Caeley Raymond all lit the lamp. Raymond, Alia Aguilar, and Sarah Witherbee had assists.

"It was a good way to finish off the season," Coach Andy Townsend said.

The girls defeated Trumbull and bested Lauralton twice this campaign.

When the team played Lauralton Hall the first time, on February 1, Masuk took home a nice lesson in sportsmanship. Masuk gave Lauralton some of its players for the scrimmage/forfeit win.

"It was good for a lot of the girls who don't play as much. They got some more ice time. It was a better learning experience for all of us," Raymond said.

Sarah Hornby, a Newtown High player on the Masuk co-op team, joined the Lauralton side when the teams met.

"It was weird. It was strange trying to score on my own goalie," said Hornby, adding that the Lauralton players were welcoming. "It was nice, they really took us in."

Hornby said the season, on the whole, was enjoyable.

"We had so much fun. It was fun to be a senior and a captain. It's a lot of fun. It's great to be playing with a team," said Hornby, who only started playing her junior year. "When I started I could barely even skate and keep the puck on my stick."

Hornby and many of her team members have made significant strides.

"They've improved throughout the year," said Townsend, noting that the Panthers had much closer games in the second half of the campaign.

"The quality of play has really improved a lot," Townsend said of girls' high school hockey throughout the state, noting that two new multi-school programs - led by Avon and Suffield - added teams this winter.

Gregory, a senior, has played hockey since she was much younger and tried to share her understanding of the game with her lesser-experienced and newer-to-the-game teammates.

"You work to get better each and every time you're on the ice," Gregory said. "It was really great. It's a great group of girls. We had a lot of fun - great bonding experience."