Feb 02, 2014 | dlecourtois | 542 views
Roller Coaster Ride Weekend
The Atom Rep squad traveled to Flamborough this weekend for a pre play off warm up tournament. It was a roller coaster ride of play and emotion. On Friday the girls played two games. The first was a familiar foe in the Woolwich Wild. As expected it was a tightly contested match but one of the peaks of our ride as the Mustangs put together a very solid team effort and Lynsey Goodwin found the back of the net to give the Stangs the 1-0 victory. Logan Jeffries set the tone for her weekend as she rose to the occasion many times to post the shut out.
Game two was on the other end of the wave as the ladies hit a trough when they faced the Russell Coyotes. Russell was fresh for their first game and ultimately out worked the Stangs and handed them a 0-3 loss. There were glimpses of peaks but nothing to exciting.
Saturday morning set up one of the most interesting matches to date. The ladies played the Guelph Gryphons - a Wellington County opponent who the Atom squad will need to best to earn a birth to the OWHA Provincials. The Gryphs are a re-categorized "A" team that has moved down into the Stangs division for the Ontario Championships. The girls stormed out of the stable and scored less than a minute into the contest as Goodwin banged in her second chance from Meg Gunn and Carson Lean. Here we go on top of the wave - but you know what comes after the peak - the valley. Guelph battled hard for the next period and a half and at the end of two it was 3-1 Gryphs. Here is where the ride took off. The ladies put their work boots on and increased their compete level and determination as Madison Bender sniped one top shelf off the rush - helpers from Leah LeCourtois and Brynn Hattle. With single digits left on the clock Meg Gunn shot one over the visiting keeper dashing the hopes of the victory for the Gryphs but sealing the tie and a birth into the semi finals for the Stangs. Assists on the third marker to Goodwin and Lean.
The semi final was set - a rematch from Friday afternoon as the girls faced Russell. This one was the most complete effort of the weekend. A true play off battle. Russell opened the scoring in the first but that didn't deter the Mustangs efforts. Landyn Meadows was rewarded early in the third as she drove wide and muscled the puck up and over the Coyotes goalie. Russell's grit was tested but they capitalized two more times making it 3-1 late in the third. With Jefferies on the bench the Stangs were able to execute the six on five as Goodwin bulged the twine from Lean and Bender. The tension was high as a tired but determined group of girls from both sides slugged out the final seconds. The buzzer sounds and Russell outlasted the Mustangs 3-2. The highest peak of the weekend. A gritty performance from the Atom squad and a great set up for the LLFHL play off bracket which starts Monday night. Rest on Sunday ladies and bring those same soiled boots from Saturday. WEEEEEEEEEEEE!