Taylor Fluids Systems U15C showing improvement with a Semi-Final showing in the Stratford Aces Festival Cup Challenge
The U15Cs started strong on the Friday defeating the Wilmot Wolverines in their tournament opener at the St. Marys Pyramid Center. Katelyn McMahon provided the lone goal in the 1 – 0 game near the end of the 2nd period when she converted on a break-away opportunity beating the Wilmot goaltender.
Wilmot took a couple of penalties this game, showing their frustration in the hard-fought game where the Aces team was able to lock-down their opponents ability to find any space to maneuver.
In their second game of the day, the U15Cs faced the eventual division winners in the Mitchell Meteors Friday afternoon at the Allman arena. After a 1st period where the Stratford team seemed to be on their heels, the period concluded with a 1 – 1 score thanks to the spectacular play of Aces goaltender Peyton Boyles-Keating. Mitchell then took the lead early in the 2nd when Mitchell was able to find a loose puck in front of the Aces net. The physical play of both teams continued with the Aces getting a power-play opportunity half-way through the 2nd period when Mitchell was assessed a cross-checking penalty.
After being unable to convert on the power-play, the U15C Aces remained calm and continued their strong team play tying down the stronger Mitchell team and were finally able to counter early in the third when the rebound from Rachael Barber's shot from the point was picked up by Sophie Ritchie, who fed Katelyn McMahon for her second goal of the game.
Again, Mitchell appeared flustered taking their second penalty of the game just over a minute after the Aces goal. However, the continued onslaught of the opponents finally wore down the Aces who were unable to stop Mitchell after busy play in front of the Aces net resulted in a loose puck reaching the slot allowing Mitchell player Brooklyn Boville to find the back of the net scoring her third goal of the game.
In the final minutes of the game, with the Aces trying to get the extra attacker on the ice, the Meteors were able to break through the Stratford wall and scored an insurance marker ending the game with a 4 – 2 Aces loss.
Saturday at noon at the Dufferin arena, the Aces faced a winless Huron Heat team. The Heat frustrated the Aces throughout the game using Stratford's own "lock-them-down" style of play against them resulting in a couple of Aces penalties. The Aces were unable to get anything going against the hard-fighting Heat with the resulting ending of a 0 – 0 tie.
Returning to the "Duff" for 7pm, the Aces faced a big and quick St. Marys Rock team. After being able to taking away the space of the larger St. Marys team for the first period, the Aces fatigue finally got the better of them with St. Marys scoring two quick goals just over four minutes into the second. The Rock were able to double the score in the third period making the final a 4 – 0 loss, with the Aces continuing to show the effects of playing two very strong opponents in Mitchell and St. Marys on the same day.
A win, tie and 2 losses in the round-robin provided the Aces with enough points to make it into the Semi-Final on Sunday again facing the 1st place St. Marys team.
For this game, the well-rested Aces seemed up to the task keeping up to the Rock in most areas of play only surrendering a single goal mid-way through the first period in what would be a rare drop in play for the Aces team.
The second period showed the Aces play their best hockey of the season out-chancing the St. Marys team in the hard-fought battle but failing to score on the St. Marys goalie.
The battle continued into the third period with a determined Aces team and stellar goaltending keeping the larger Rock team at bay. The Aces were able to pull the goalie for an extra attacker late in third when what appeared to be a tired Rock team iced the puck with 1:34 left on the clock. The Aces used their ensuing time-out to set up a play that resulted in a couple of good scoring opportunities that the Aces ultimately failed to convert. The game ended with the Aces defeated 1 – 0 after a few icings by the St. Marys team ran out the time clock.
Overall, the Taylor Fluids Systems U15C team has shown tremendous improvement throughout the first portion of the season with the girls showing more in-game intensity and the ability to work as a team in both the defensive and offensive zones. Hopefully this improvement continues to show good results as the team looks forward to Friday November 26th starting another big weekend and the Kitchener Fallfest Tournament.
Stratford Aces Taylor Fluid Systems U15C - Stratford Aces Festival Cup Challenge Results
Fri Nov 19 11am vs Wilmot Wolverines - 1 – 0 Win
Fri Nov 19 4pm vs Mitchell Meteors - 4 – 2 Loss
Sat Nov 20 12pm vs Huron Heat - 0 – 0 Tie
Sat Nov 20 7pm vs St. Marys Rock - 4 – 0 Loss
Sun Nov 21 10:15am vs St. Marys Rock - 1 – 0 Loss