Nov 24, 2015 | Christine Beuerman | 299 views
Hard Battles in the Stratford Festival Cup!
The Synders Graphics PeeWee Girls had some tough games this past weekend in the Festival Cup Tournament in Stratford. In round robin play they came away with a 2 win, 2 tie record and loss in Semi Final action.
Friday morning our Meteors girls would hit the ice with a rematch against Lambeth, we had just played these girls a couple of weeks ago in league play that didn't determine a winner as neither team was able to score against two hot goalies but this day would be different as we were out their to prove we were the better team. As the game got well on it's way, Lambeth would be the ones to score first but within a few minutes, Erica Pletch answered right back netting our first of many goals in this game. Emma French and Brooklyn Gethke set her up to get that all important goal. First period ended and score was 1-1. Second period was a total domination of Mitchell. We just didn't give Lambeth any chance to move that puck anywhere on the ice. We had finally figured out on how to score on that Lambeth goalie as Brooklyn Gethke would score twice and Alexa Hahn would also add to our score to make the good girls on top 4-1. Emma French, Taya Cornish and Jaimie Badley would earn the assists. Third period started off with a bang as Lambeth would notch their second goal of the game but the hot stick of Taya Cornish would score less than a minute later to keep our lead to 3. The remainder of the period was very even play as both teams skated back and forth but just couldn't seem to set up the plays they wanted. Buzzer sounded and game was over with us winning our first game of the tournament 5-2. Way to start the tournament girls, let's keep this going for our afternoon game.
After having a few hours off and away from the arena, we would all return for our next game against the East Lambton Eagles. This game was pretty intense as East Lambton is a much more aggressive team then we are but we didn't back down. First period would settle nothing as neither team was able to score. Second period was the "shoots she scores" period as all the goals for this game were scored in the second. East Lambton would get on the scoreboard first with 2 goals but with our mighty power and fight we would net that puck right by their goalie to even the score. Emma French and Erica Pletch would both score unassisted. With the score at a deadlock of 2, third period would decide who would come out on top. As time winded down and our goalie Makayla Beuerman making save after save and our girls trying to score on that Eagle's goalie, neither would succeed as the game would end in a tie 2-2. That would be all the hockey for the first day of the tournament, now to get ready for our final two remaining round robin games on Saturday.
Saturday morning was early as we were the first game of the day. We faced off against Grey Highland, a team that we have never met so far so it would be interesting to see the match up. This game was very evenly matched as both teams were ready to win. Once again we would surrender the first goal of the game to our opponent but as the period was drawing near the end Taya Cornish would score unassisted. Whew, tied it up! But with just seconds left on the clock in this period, Grey Highland would score to take the lead. Wow, this is going to be a burn burner! With us trailing by a goal to start the second period, a dertermine group of Meteors started with some fire. We moved the puck well around the ice and taking shots on their goalie but just couldn't seem to get the bounce we needed to net that puck. Play was back and forth for both teams but with a cheer from the crowd we finally got it in and tied the game. Awesome job girls! Goal provided by Brooklyn Gethke with help from line mates Emma French and Erica Pletch. Wow, what an amazing game to be watching and we still have another period left to play. With the start of the final period we knew this could be anyone's game. This period was the same pace as the previous two periods with some great plays and shots taken on both goalies but again, Grey Highlands would score to take the lead by one. With time winding down and what looked like a loss could be coming to the girls we would make our final attempt up the ice and set up a scamble of players in front of their net and with many shots taken, Emma French would score with just 25 seconds left on the clock to once again tie up the game 3-3. Erica Pletch and Alexa Hahn were the right there to set Emma up. Everyone was on their feet as we couldn't believe it. As both teams lined up at centre to take another faceoff and to watch the clock count down, the buzzer sounded and game was over. What a great game by both teams, your certainly kepted everyone on the edge of their seats.
We would again get a chance to have a well deserved rest before meeting another one of our fimilar foes, the Lucan Irish in the afternoon. Our girls had something to prove this game as our last meeting with the Irish wasn't our best effort. This time, we opened the scoring in the first period, off the stick of Emma French, Sydney Ryan and Brooklyn Gethke would earn the assists. After the opening period, we lead 1-0. Second period was a solid defensively played by us not allowing any goals. The third period wasn't our best as we would allow them to score a couple of goals but our gals dug deep to stay on top. Emma French would score her second goal of the game from the help of Ava Gibbings. With us holding the slim lead of 1, and still five minutes left in the game, Lucan would score again to tie it up. Come on girls, you can do it, get that goal back! Time was counting down on the clock and we were hoping for not another tie, Jaimie Badley along with Maggie Price skated as quickly as they could up the ice and with that rush, Jaimie Badley would score with 21.2 seconds left on the clock. A group hug on the ice and high five's from the team mates, we would line up for the face off but that is where it would end, we won 3-2. We would finish our round robin play in second place in our division setting us a date and rematch in Semi Final action vs East Lambton.
Semi Final Sunday had arrived and our mighty Meteors were ready for the challange of the Eagles. We know this game was going to be tough and could a bit rough as we had seen a bit of this in our earlier game. Both teams lined up at centre with a nod from each goalie the puck was dropped and this semi final was well on it's way. Pace was quick right from the get go and never slowed down. With numerous attempts to score by East Lambton, we held them off the scoreboard for the first period as they did the same for us. Period over and still scoreless in this do or die game as winner moved on to the final. After a chat from each bench, the girls got ready to start the second period. During this period despite a couple of good shots on their net, they were able to poke the puck by our defense and goalie to open the scoring and take the lead. With them having the lead by 1 and only twelve minutes left in the game, Taya Cornish took the puck from our goalie Makayla Beuerman and skated all the way down the ice and deaked out their goalie and scored, yes she scored, the game was tied. With the score tied at 1 and the minutes left on the clock counting down the pace picked up once again and also the aggressiveness. You could tell that each team wanted the win but neither was willing to budge as both goalies were standing tall and saving everything. At 2:19 left in the game and a scamble of Eagles and Meteors in front of our net, the Eagles were awarded the very questionable goal to give them the lead. The fans were in shock that they call that a goal. Not giving up our gals gave it a couple of great trys at the end but just came up short and loss 2-1 ending their tournament. You all played great hockey this weekend against some very tough teams.
The girls have a league game on Thursday night in Blyth against BCH. Good luck girls!