The Kinsmen Club of Stratford Intermediate Aces are KWLL champs again after defeating the Woolwich Wild in a closely contested match.
The Kinsmen Ladies found themselves in familiar territory as they faced off against their league rivals at the Activa Sportsplex in Kitcener on Saturday evening. The Aces finished the regular season in first place, tied with the Wild in points, but ahead of them based on head to head play, so they were expecting a tough contest as they headed into the final.
In the first period, the two teams seemed to be feeling each other out, as neither offense seemed to be able to mount any real attack, and, as the frame ended, the score remained deadlocked at 0-0.
The second period started off slowly as well, but two minutes in, Aces defenceman Carlie Shantz saw an opening in the neutral zone and sent a pass to Erin Kuepfer, who deked past the Woolwich defence and drove to the net, shooting the puck past Wild netminder Lindsey Lesage to give her team the lead.
The Wild responded, pushing hard to equalize, as the Kinsmen defence scrambled to keep them at bay.
As the Woolwich attack grew stronger, Stratford began to find themselves in penalty trouble as they desperately tried to hang on and, late in the frame, the Wild finally connected, beating Aces keeper, Tasia Reynen to tie the score at one apiece.
In the third period, the momentum went back and forth as each team recorded a number of scoring chances, but both goaltenders were up to the challenge, turning away shot after shot until the final buzzer sounded with the teams deadlocked at 1.
According to KWLL rules, a tie in the final means going directly to a shootout, so the goalies were once again, front and centre.
Stratford shot first as Kuepfer tried to beat Lesage up high again, this time putting the puck over the crossbar.
Woolwich's first shooter tried a different approach, deking to the left, but Reynen read the play perfectly, sliding her pad across to make the save.
Next it was Megan Rauser's turn, and, as the left-winger approached the net, she seemed to lose track of the puck, throwing Lesage off balance, but Rauser managed to regain control just well enough to slide a backhand shot through the keeper's pads to give her team the lead.
Woolwich tried again to make the move to the left, but, once again Reynen read the play, forcing the Wild shooter wide. With only a slim chance, she attempted an off-balance shot, and hit the post.
Kirsten Matthews was up next, but this time Lesage stood strong and made a good stop as the Aces centre tried to go up top.
With only one remaining Woolwich shooter, the outcome was now in the hands of the Aces netminder.
Once again, the shooter tried to beat Reynen on the left, but, again, she tracked the puck perfectly, moving with the player to make the stop, giving her team the 2-1 victory to repeat as KWLL Intermediate champions.