Mar 04, 2018 | RNyenhuis | 565 views
Week Two of Playoffs Tie Aces Novice C in Control of Divisional Playoff
Aces get their revenge on BAD Blazers to tie them in the round robin
Week two of the Novice C Ace playoffs deliver a solid rebound performance in divisional action and leave the girls seeking new goals against local provincial foes.
The girls traveled to Mitchell Sunday Feb 25 to meet the Meteors for the first time. The Meteors have battled for first spot in the WOGHL 1st division all year and showed the Aces their strength right out of the gate. Down 3-0 early, the Aces shook the shock of the team's relentless offense and adjusted their defensive play to slow the Meteor attack. The defensive four-some of Stokes, Helson, Wall and Moss did their best to contain the Meteors while the Ace forwards accelerated their back checking throughout the game.
Tuesday's match up was the grudge match game the Aces were waiting for to avenge the previous week loss to their divisional foes the BAD Blazers. Reese Flanagan took the nod from coach Hruden in net - and she was ready for the challenge. As a student of the game, Flanagan analysed her previous goal tending performance against the Blazers in the previous week and was determined to adjust her play to contain the Blazer offence. Reese stopped 6 break away deke attempts from the blocker side from hot Blazer forwards and nearly cruised her way to a 4th shutout before a shot squeaked past her late in the third breaking the shut out attempt. Her net minding was aided by the relentless defensive clearing by game MVP Maeve Moss. Ace gunners Wheal, Cameron and Nyenhuis each netted a pair allowing the Aces to cruise to a 6-1 victory, tying the Blazers in the playoff round robin standings.
Saturday's matchup put the Aces back against the Meteors for the second time in a week. Gianna Nickel was tapped to try her hand at net. Like the previous match the girls found themselves in defensive mode and pushed back as hard a they could to contain the Meteor offense.
As the Aces consider themselves out of the running in the provincial play-down, coach Hruden shook up Sunday's line-up against the WOGHL Division 2 St. Mary's Rock. Cadence McKee tried her hand between the pipes while Hruden allowed most of his players to experience new positions nearing the end of the season. Jule Cameron connected neatly with Katie Wheal to net the Aces only goal in a Rock blow-out of the Aces.
The Aces look to solidify their spot in the WOGHL 4th play-off divisional final in a home and home stand with the Wallaceburg lakers in the coming week as well as finish their provincial play-down with the Rock and the South Huron Sabres.