Weekend Hockey League Report
[Weekend hockey report from Jan 29/30, written by Kaywell Outerbridge]
Women’s A League: Budgies A vs Wildcats A, Final score: 2-3
The Budgies dominated the opening 20 minutes but were held at bay by some great goalkeeping by Anti Williams of the Wildcats. The relentless pressure by the Budgies eventually paid off when Lakae Dill scored a field goal in the 29th minute to make the score 1-0. The opening goal seemed to spark the Wildcats into action and they fought back to equalize in the 31st minute on a reverse stick scoop by Maria Pichery.
The second half saw both teams working hard trying to win the game. The Wildcats took the lead in the 51st minute when Susanna Almeida scored from a penalty corner. Budgies continued to push up the field to find an equalizer but were held at bay by the staunch Wildcat’s defense. The Wildcats were able to increase their lead when the Wildcats’ Eva Dillas cracked in a short corner shot in the 58th minute to advance the score 3-1. The Budgies had majority of the possession in the final 12 minutes desperately working hard to score. Their hard work paid off when Stephanie Adderley scored off a penalty corner shot in the 65th minute. The Budgies continued to mount pressure in the final 5 minutes but were unable to equalize and the game ended 3-2 to the Wildcats.
Swallows A vs Canaries A, Final score: 5-4
The Canaries’ Joanne Smith-Barrow gave her team the lead in the 4th minute through a field goal. Swallows’ Shannon Carlin equalized in the 6th minute from a field goal assisted by Elizabeth Stewart. Stewart then scored in the 11th minute from a penalty corner giving the Swallows a short lived 2-1 lead before the Canaries’ Mary Ellen Jackson equalized the game from a field goal in the 29th minute.
In the second half Maria Dobinson gave Swallows the lead from a pass by Elizabeth Stewart to score a field goal in the 48th minute. The Swallow’s added a fourth goal in the 52nd minute by Joanna Heaney assisted again from a pass by Elizabeth Stewart. The Canaries’ Jackson got one back when she scored her second field goal in the 53rd minute to make the score 4-3. The Swallows restored their two goal advantage in the 59th minute on a penalty corner by Elizabeth Stewart. The Canaries’ Lisa Marshall went on a solo run beating all in her path to score a field goal in the 67th minute to close the gap to 5-4. The Canaries worked hard in the final three minutes but were unable to find an equalizer. The Swallows would be the overall winners beating the Canaries 5-4 in this nine goal thriller with the entire Swallows team playing very well, and great defending by Mallory Towlson, Gemma Rowe, Hanna Ellison and Heather Sinclair, and excellent mid-field play by Jennifer Chisnall.
View photos of the Swallows vs Canaries game here.
Ravens A vs Swifts A, Final score: 2-0
The Swifts had several of their experience players missing at the start of the game and one would have expected Ravens to score at will. Starting with 10 players including 13 year olds Azari Thomas in the centre of midfield and Taj Branch at right defender, the Swifts defense marshaled by Captain Ryanne Bardgett held out until the 33rd minute when they made 2 errors in front of the goal to allow the Ravens’ Sharmini Samuels to score a field goal and the first half ended 1-0.
In the second half the Swifts went up to 11 players in the 39th minute and again held firm until another error allowed Ravens’ Emma Simmons to score in the 51st minute. With 5 minutes left Bardgett was denied a goal by a very good diving stick save from the Ravens ‘keeper’ Juliette Oatley and the game ended 2-0 to Ravens.
Women’s B League, Bluebirds B vs Canaries B, Final score: 2-0
Despite heavy rain on Friday night, both Canaries B and the Bluebirds played a competitive, well fought game. First half saw no action in the net but with a lot of action on Canaries defense. Bluebirds coming out the victor after Debra Sagurs scored in the 40th minute in the second half from a penalty corner and Liz Twite scoring again from another penalty corner in the 60th minute.
Swallows B vs Swifts B, Final score: 1-5
In the 4th minute Swifts’ Raven Pearman retrieved a long ball in the right hand corner and passed to Alex Francis inside the circle who found Ryanne Bardgett unmarked on the penalty spot for the easy goal to open the scoring. In the 12th minute Bardgett was this time the provider for Kelah Osborne to tap in uncontested at the left hand post. Three minutes later Swifts went three up as Bardgett went on a solo run beating 2 defenders before beating the ‘keeper’ and the first half ended 3-0 to Swifts.
Swallows replied through Jennifer Chisnall’s solo effort in the 51st minute, but a minute later Bardgett completed her hat trick when Iman Smith took a quick free hit to Bardgett who fired past the helpless ‘keeper’. Alex Francis completed the scoring in the 57th minute after following up on her own rebound from the ‘keeper’. It was a tough game for Swallows who fought gallantly and played shorthanded with only 9 players for the entire match. There was some great defensive play by Kelli Nusum, Heather Sinclair, Dianne Moore & Olivia Moore.
Ravens B vs Cardinals B, Final score: 1-2
These two teams always prove to be a rather tough game. Cardinals were pleased to have put out a slightly stronger team than when they met Ravens on January 9th and were beaten 2-0. Cardinals took the lead in the 10th minute after a cross from a penalty corner by Amori Venter to find the stick of Denise Downey who beautifully executed a shot into the back of the net. Cardinals’ Candy Foggo doubled the lead minutes before the end of the first half from a shot at the top of the circle off another penalty corner ending the half at 2-0 to Cardinals.
The second half resumed with continued pressure from both sides. With great ‘keeping’ from Cardinals’ Holly Augustus and assistance from her defensive line, and with five minutes left a Ravens’ shot into the circle found an unmarked Annette Fitzmaurice who cracked the ball high into the right of the net in the 65th minute to give new hope to the Ravens. It was not to be for the Ravens on this night, as they were unable to find an equalizer with the Cardinals being the winner of the game by a score of 2-1. Katie Flath challenged Ravens’ defensive line throughout the game.
