Oct 31, 2016 | jmcgregor | 418 views
Willie Wildly Good in Net secures point for Aces
Sunday afternoon double header in Stratford against a good Lakeshore team was on the schedule for the Dunny Peewee Aces. The first game was a 2pm puck drop and Lakeshore came to play looking to avenge a 2-1 loss one week prior on their home ice. Lakeshore played with an intensity and for the majority of the game was the better team on the ice as the Aces weren't skating like they can.
Fortunately for the Aces goaltender Paige Willie didn't take the afternoon off. Willie was good early and often making 25 saves in the game and was the best player on the ice for either team. Only a goal mouth scramble early in the third where a loose puck was knocked in which at the time gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead. Willie was perfect for everything else and it allowed the Aces to tie it on a powerplay with 4 minutes left in the game.
The first shift started off well for the Aces. After winning the faceoff and moving the puck smartly Raelyn Pennington was sent in alone on a sweet feed. Pennington fired a shot that seemed destined for net but caught the shaft of the Lightning goaltenders stick to stay out. That was as good as it would get until the third for the Aces. With a man advantage the Aces started to turn their feet and it resulted in the tying goal.
Jesse Dietrich started the play moving the puck to Briar Slattery on the right wall. Slattery found an open Lauren Taylor who crossed the blue line before moving to her left and firing a hard shot back where she came from beating the Lightning goal keeper to even the score. The Aces began to press at that point and woke up. The last 4 minutes saw the Aces fire 7 shots on the Lightning keeper none of which were able to find the back of the net. With a mere few seconds left on the clock Avery Wildgust almost won it when she one times a shot off the cross bar and over the cage keeping the score tied. After the puck hit the end glass it was fired out of the Lakeshore zone for one last Lightning rush that ended with a fitting Willie save as time expired preserving the tie.
Keira Dietz the smooth skating Aces defender deserves a mention as she logged several tough minutes in this game, which was her best in an Aces uniform. Dietz was moving the puck well and smartly controlling play in the Aces zone when she was on the ice.
When the contest ended and Willie was given a round of applause for her effort from fans and teammates alike the Aces headed for some food and rest to get ready for a 6pm rematch against the Lightning.