by Chase Sondike ‘26

The Warriors on ice prevailed 8-5 in the first round of the state tournament over a very strong River Hill team this past Thursday. River Hill, which had not lost a game all season, was taken down by Sherwood thanks to a hat trick as well as one assist from star sophomore and leading goal scorer Vaughn Teeter. Sophomore Dom Romano also contributed greatly to the win, as he tallied 2 goals and 2 assists in the win. The two sophomores came up big when it mattered most, putting on a show and delivering in the clutch.

With growing confidence and energy, the Warriors now move on to the state quarterfinals, where they will face La Plata out of Charles County. The Warriors have now won 3 straight, all being must-wins in order to prolong their season, and they are looking to continue this run and come away with something memorable. Despite dropping their last two games before the playoffs, the final regular-season 6-6 Warriors know that they have the tools to go far in the playoffs, as Montgomery County is the toughest competition they will face in the state.

A primary factor in the recent success in the playoffs was getting back standout sophomore goaltender Aidan Pesek, who had previously been sidelined with illness, but he made his return in the first round of the postseason against B-CC in a 5-4 win. Pesek has proven to be a key player, making crucial saves. Even when the young defense has had its struggles, he has remained composed and reliable in net, often facing a high number of shots and still consistently delivering strong performances. The offense has stepped up as of recently, too, creating more scoring chances, moving the puck better, and capitalizing on opportunities. With his stellar netminding, combined with an offense that has found its footing late in the season, hopes are high.

Barring that the Warriors win next week against La Plata, they will most likely face the defending state champions Oakdale in the semifinals. Oakdale has had enormous amounts of success winning the state championship the last two years. The potential matchup adds even more intensity, as Sherwood would have the chance to prove themselves against one of the top programs in the state.