WEST HAVEN, CT — On paper, it seemed like a mismatch - the two-time defending state champions taking on a first-year varsity program with players from five different schools, some of whom had to travel more than 50 miles one way just to get to practice.

Games are not played on paper, however, and the co-op comprised of Suffield, Enfield, Housatonic Regional, Ellington and MLC took to the Bennett Rink ice surface Sunday believing it would emerge as champions of the Connecticut High School Girls Hockey Association. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, Darien denied them that honor, as three goals in the first period paved the way to a 5-2 victory and the third straight state title for the Blue Wave.

"It's obviously not what we were looking for," Suffield head coach Joe Gozzi said. "We've got one heck of a crew of kids here. They wanted to compete and they brought it. Sometimes that's how these games end up, but we're all proud of them. These girls never let up all season long." Darien scored its fourth goal early in the second period, at which point the Wildcats could have thrown in the towel. Instead, the co-op team continued to battle, eventually breaking onto the scoreboard on a Sophia Lupone goal, assisted by Nora Birmingham and Sydney Lupone, at the 10:40 mark of the third period.

The Blue Wave added an insurance tally less than a minute later, but Ana Tittmann netted one with 1:36 remaining to provide a respectable final score. Sophomore goaltender Caitlyn Caldon was pressured throughout the game, registering 30 saves.

Prior to the championship game, three Wildcats were honored as members of the CHSGHA All-State team: junior forward Sophia Lupone, who hails from Suffield; Tittmann, a senior forward and one of the players who regularly trekked a 115-mile round trip from Housatonic to the Enfield Twin Rinks; and junior defenseman Tori Geaglone of Enfield.

"We have seven seniors, so we'll have a little bit of rebuilding to do, but the girls who remain on the team are competitors and real hockey players. I can't wait for next year," Gozzi said.