Our Novice girls headed to Woodstock with a lot of determination, and managed to come very close to the banner!!
Easthill faced off against Windsor on Friday morning for their first game of the tournament. Our girls were ready to go, and got their first goal midway through the first period, #12, Ally B scored, unassisted. Midway through the second period #8, Jordenne V, paired up with #11, Krista K and #4, Sophie B to make the score 2-0. Our girls were looking good until 33 seconds left in the 2nd period, when Windsor managed to score 3 goals before the buzzer. Walkerton came out fighting in the 3rd, but Windsor slide another past Goaltender Georgina M, #30 early in the 3rd. Jordenne V, #8 managed to beat the Windsor goalie one last time, assisted again, by #11, Krista K, and #4, Sophie B. We were at a 4-4 tie when Windsor managed to get through our goaltender again, with 27 seconds left on the clock, leaving the girls with a 5-4 loss--but a well played game. Player of the game was given to goaltender Georgina M, who played an outstanding game!
Saturday morning our girls laced up, ready for a win against Woodstock. The first period the girls played well, keeping the Woodstock goalie busy, but the period ended scoreless. Early in the second period, #8 Jordenne V, slid one past the goalie, assisted by #6, Claire W. Shortly after that, #7, Erika S went in alone and beat the Woodstock goaltender. The rest of the game was scoreless, giving goalie Georgina M her first shut out of the year! Way to go girls!
Sunday morning the girls knew that it was win or go home. They faced off against a strong Stratford team, and really dug in. Late in the first period, the team of #8, Jordenne V, #11 Krista K and #4, Sophie B beat the Stratford goalie to tie the game 1-1. In the second period the girls pulled ahead of Stratford with a goal by #2, Courtney W assisted by #12 Ally B and #3 Bailey T, and an unassisted goal by #11, Krista K. Stratford was determined and came out firing in the 3rd period bringing the score to 3-2....but Walkerton wasn't done yet! #3, Bailey T was able to get her first goal of the year, with help from #2, Courtney W and #5, Samantha H. The final score was 4-2! They made it to the FINALS!!
The gold medal game took place on Sunday afternoon, and our girls were ready!! Coach Albin Spitzig showed the girls his handspring for good luck, and the girls were determined to win the game! They faced off against Windsor again, and they were ready! Early in the first period, #11 Krista K was able to beat the Windsor goalie. Our girls were ahead 1-0!! The score stayed the same until late in the 2nd when Windsor answered back and tied things up. Walkerton had control of the puck for most of the game, but just couldn't seem to beat the Windsor goalie. End of the third period and the game was still tied 1-1! The girls were tired, but buckled down for 5 minutes of sudden-death overtime. Both teams had many chances, but they remained deadlocked until Windsor beat out our goaltender, with less than 56 seconds left of overtime. Defence player Claire W was awarded MVP of the game. We didn't bring home a banner, but each girl brought home a silver medal, and the knowledge that they gave everything they had this weekend, and there is nothing wrong with second place!
Congrats Easthill Novice!!!! Every single girl on the team played thier hardest, congrats go out to our strong defence, Courtney W, Claire W, Erika S, Hope D and Samanta H they held the line in every game! Our centres, Jordenne V, Brooklyn S, and Ally B were everywhere on the ice doing thier job through out every game. Our Wingers, Brina H, Sophie B, Krista K, Bailey T, Courtney B, and Emily E were out there skating hard and digging for the puck, sending it out for chances at net. And the goaltender, Georgina M played outstanding all weekend! Congrats girls!!
