BCSS 2017 Girls’ AA Field Hockey
November 11, 2017 by admin
Filed under Provincial and Territorial News
BCSS 2017 GIRLS’ AA FIELD HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP |
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Consolation 9th/10th | Consolation 11th/12th | Consolatin 13th/14th | Consolation 15th/16th |
St Thomas Aquinas | L V Rogers | G.W. Graham | Southridge |
Glenlyon Norfolk School | South Okanagan Secondary | South Kamloops | New Delta |
Championship 1st/2nd | Championship 3rd/4th | Championship 5th/6th | Championship 7th/8th |
Crofton | Little Flower Academy | J.L. Crowe | Brentwood |
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Collingwood | York | Windsor | Michael’s University School |
The senior field hockey team woke up Friday morning knowing that the BC AA title was well within their grasp. All they had to do was a little House cleaning – that is they needed to take care of York House and then long-time rival Crofton House and the championship would be coming home to Collingwood.
The Cavs semi-final match against York House finished 4-0 but it was a much tighter game than the score would indicate. The Yorkies were athletic and quick on the counter-attack and they gave Collingwood everything they could handle in the first half.
Although the Cavs were to get multiple short-corner opportunities in the early going, they could not produce any goals off their set pieces. Finally, after a terrific run by Kelsie Stephenson earned the Cavs another short corner, Kelsie herself scored after a mad scramble in front of the net.
Right on the halftime whistle, it appeared York House has scored to tie it up. However, the two umpires waved the goal off after consulting with each other. Collingwood players and fans breathed a big sigh of relief.
The second half started in unbelievable fashion when Jaimie Chrystal made a great run and then fed it to Rachel Graham. Rachel in turn put Kaiden Stanley in on a breakaway. Kaiden made no mistake as she deftly put it past the sprawling York goalie.
The game was still in the balance when Bronwyn Bird scored on a pretty sweep to make it 3-0. Kaiden followed this up with another goal when she pounced on a rebound that was created by Devon Litherland’s hard shot.
The final brought together Collingwood and Crofton House for the third straight year. The Cavs had won in 2015, but had lost on a last-minute goal in 2016. As expected, it was another riveting final.
Play was very even throughout much of the first half. A defensive breakdown at the 23-minute mark allowed Crofton to take a 1-0 lead. For the first time in the tournament, Collingwood went into a halftime talk trailing. The message at halftime was clear and succinct – stop playing as individuals and start moving the ball early to open teammates.
It did not take long for the Cavs to tie up the game. An early attack earned Collingwood a short corner at the three-minute mark. While the initial shot was stopped, Crofton could not clear the ball from the D and this allowed Kelsie to pounce on it and smash into the back of the net.
Right from the tip-off, Crofton stormed back and earned a short-corner of their own. But goalie Elsa Hunter and her defenders stepped up and Crofton was rebuffed.
Midway through the second half, Jaimie made a powerful run. Her pass to Kaiden was perfect and Kaiden made no mistake hammering the ball home and giving the Collingwood the 2-1 lead.
As usual, it was a tremendous team effort. The Back 3 of Kayleigh Garland, McKinley Kennedy and Liz McMullen all played fantastic games. Their coolness under pressure along with Elsa’s fine goalkeeping kept Crofton from tying the game in the late stages when Crofton had pulled their goalie for an extra attacker.
Collingwood coaches Ashleigh Gold and Catherine Underwood did an amazing job with this young team. Right from the outset of the season they sensed that there was real potential in this group and the team just got stronger and stronger as the season progressed. Congratulations to the coaches and the players on this well-earned championship.
Stephanie Gillies and Devon Litherland celebrate winning the BC Championship (Photo courtesy of Howard Tsumura and Varsity Letters)
Kelsie Stephenson and Meg Mauro celebrate Kelsie’s goal that brought the Cavs back to life in the final. (Photo courtesy of Howard Tsumura and Varsity Letters)
Bronwyn Bird was cool under pressure all tournament long. (Photo courtesy of Howard Tsumura and Varsity Letters)
2017 AA BC Champions
Happy coaches with their grads – L to R – Coach Catherine Underwood, Chloe Szybunka, Kelsie Stephenson, Jaimie Chrystal, Megan Mauro and Coach Ashleigh Gold.
Read More About Collingwood’s Big Win At Howard Tsumura’s fantastic Varsity Letters Website which focuses on High School and University Sports in BC.