The Taylor Fluid Systems Aces had a busy weekend playing
four games in four days starting Thursday night. Out of the four games the Aces
played Huron Heat three times and the South Huron Sabres.
The first game of four was played on Thursday
night against Huron Heat. This was the first game in the final round for the
LLFHL. Sloan Cameron was between the pipes this game and did not make a mistake
as she recorded another shutout.
The Aces spread their scoring out throughout the game scoring one in the first, two in the second and one in the third period to beat the Heat 4-0. Ella Taylor started the scoring midway through the first. E. Taylor picked the puck up at the defensive blueline and carried into the Heat’s end splitting the defense and waiting out the goalie to slide the puck through the open five-hole. Assists from Grace Laverty and Paige Campbell. The second goal was scored by Olivia Van Straaten. Kara Rolph won the faceoff back to Laverty who passed to her partner Van Straaten. Van Straaten took the shot from the point beating the Heat’s goalie top cheese. The third goal was scored by Katie Helson. Helson received a nice pass from Aveleen Flood who was behind the net and shot the biscuit beating the goalie to give the Aces a three-goal lead. The last goal was scored by Lauren Leis. Leis picked off a pass attempt in the neutral zone and skated the puck into the Heat’s zone, she dangled a couple defense and took the shot on net beating the goalie blocker side.
The second game for the TFS Aces was on Friday night against the Heat again but this time the girls were playing in the Heat’s barn and for the right to go to Provincials. Ava Neumeister was between the pipes for this game and stood her ground denying all but one shot that came her way. After the 4-0 loss last game the Heat were out to prove that they had what it takes to compete, and they did. The game ended in a 1-1 tie. Of which, both goals were scored in the last half of the third period with the Heat drawing first blood. Lauren Leis was the only goal scorer for the Aces. Leis won the faceoff in the neutral zone and carried the puck in to the offensive zone and took a shot that made its way through the traffic in front and made its way into the back of the net to tie the game. The game finished with the Aces getting the point that was needed to earn them a ticket to the Provincial tournament.
The third game of the weekend seen the Taylor Fluid Systems Aces battle the South Huron Sabres, again for Provincial qualifications. Although the Aces were guaranteed a spot with the result of the last game, this game was going to determine if either the Sabres or the Heat would advance. The Sabres needed to outright win the game to advance; a tie would not be enough. With that said, the Sabres came out with nothing to lose; they battled hard every shift and with the Aces playing their third game in as many days they might not have been as quick off the hop as usual. Sloan Cameron started the game between the pipes and played great only letting one slip by her, and that was only after making the first save. The Aces started the scoring in the third period. The faceoff was won back to Jessie Horan who made a really nice pass to her partner Kylie Fifield. Fifield took a shot with a perfect arc that found its way over the Sabres’ goalie and into the net. The third period seen the Sabres hold nothing back, they battled hard giving Cameron a workout and testing our forwards and defence during each battle. The last minute and a half seen the Sabres pulled their goalie to try and get the win to move on but the Aces stood their ground, not giving the Sabres any room to move. The game ended 1-1 tie.
The fourth and last game of the weekend was against the familiar Huron Heat. If the Aces win this game, they win the ticket to the Best of the Best tournament, if they lose, they will have to face the Heat one more time on Thursday for all the marbles. Ava Neumeister was between the pipes this game and as usual she stood tall keeping the Aces in the game. The Aces scored twice throughout the game, both goals from our defense and both unassisted. Van Straaten was the first to score. Her hard shot landed a foot in front of the net and went through the goalie’s legs. The second wasn’t until the third period were the game was tied up one a piece. Jessie Horan shot the puck from the blueline, perfectly placed that it deflected off of a Heat defender and into the net to make it a 2-1 game. Nearing the end of the third the Heat knew they could not lose so they pulled their goalie and with :47 seconds left in the game they were able to get a backdoor goal to tie it up. The game ended tied 2-2. The next and deciding game will be on Thursday. Get some rest Aces, it’s going to be a tough one.