NotesStratford Defeats Kitchener Lady Rangers for First Win of the Season
After a hard fought loss in the first game of the year, Stratford defeated the Lady Rangers on their home ice 3-1 to get their first win. Julia Glitz opened the scoring in the first by stealing the puck at the blue line and going in for a beautiful solo effort goal. Olivia Willemsen put the Aces up 2-0 after Avery Canal caused a turnover at the blueline and got the puck to Caley Michel who had a great shot that was denied but Willemsen was there to knock home the rebound.
Kitchener tried to regain some momentum but Adella Feller made a great reaction save off a Lady Ranger tip out front. The Aces kept up the pressure in the second with Milana Verellen displaying her two way capability taking the puck end to end but was stopped by an excellent save. Jillian Rossi, Olivia Willemsen and Julia Glitz also had a strong shift penning the Lady Rangers in their zone midway through the second but couldn't open the gap further. Avery Canal working hard in the defensive zone got a tripping call, but Willemsen had the best chance of the Lady Ranger PP with a great shot down the wing shorthanded and then forced the Lady Ranger goalie to cover for a faceoff.
The lady rangers tried to regain some momentum and broke down the ice 2 on 1 but Lindy Downham successfully broke up the play and the danger was averted. The Aces continued to keep up the pressure with Verellen with another solo effort from the backend and two great chances by Keatyn Bell and Kaitlyn Green. In the third, After an iffy tripping call on Downham, Jillian Rossi and Avery Canal spent most of the ensuing penalty kill in the Lady Rangers zone using their speed and grit to keep causing turnovers.
The Aces kept coming with a great chance by Paisley Stevens and a beautiful pass from Glitz to Bell out front all alone but it went just wide. Kitchener started coming harder late in the third and a 3 on 2 was just offside. However, with 3:27 left to play, a Lady Ranger split the D and in all alone to make it 2-1. However, a Kitchener elbowing penalty sent the Aces on the powerplay, and Verellen who had been causing problems for Kitchener all game, broke down the wing again from her own end, danced around a defender and put it far side on the goalie to regain the 2 goal lead.
Kitchener did not want to go quietly however, but Adella Feller saved her biggest play for the end of the game denying the Lady Rangers off a turnover with a big save and a few more key saves late to seal the win.