November 23, 2008 vs Windsor Wildcats

The Atom Lady Jr. Sting ventured to Windsor to battle the Wildcats with first place in the balance. Sarnia started slowly with Windsor buzzing the Sting Zone. Ashley Norland in the Sting net was forced to make 4 solid saves to keep the score even after the first two shifts.

Neither team was able to penetrate the others zone with much pressure until Vanessa Wardell stripped the puck from a Windsor player and found Mackenzie Wilson. The buzzer sounded to end the first period before Wilson could wire her patented wrister at the Windsor net and the period ended scoreless.

Windsor started the second period with more jump. A dump in from the Windsor point went around the boards. Windsor was first to the puck and confusion on the Sting defence left a Wildcat player all alone in front. A deft stick handle deke beat Norland and the score was 1-0 Windsor.

Windsor again kept the puck in at the Sting blueline as the Sting struggled with their break out. Again a Windsor player was left alone in front and an abandoned Norland could not stop a high shot to the top part of the net. Windsor had a surprise 2-0 lead.

Sarnia started to find their stride and were almost awarded when Lyndsey Osler found Wardell alone in front.  Wardell tried to tip the puck past the Windsor goalie but the puck went wide into the corner, keeping Sarnia off the board.

Aleah Boersma for the Sting chased the puck into the Sting end. Turning up ice, Boersma spotted Kristin Parkes. Parkes went wide around the Windsor defence. A Windsor stick tripped Parkes, but not before she was able to get a low shot away which beat the new Windsor goalie through the five hole. Sarnia had new life at 2-1.

Sarnia strated to show why they were near the top of the standings. Continued pressure by Sarnia saw the puck squirt to Suzanne Lockhart. Lockhart’s hard shot found the goalie’s “pumpkin” but not the back of the net. A face off scramble saw Allee Riddoch jump on a loose puck but her low shot missed wide and Sarnia started the final period down a goal.

The start of the 3^rd period saw Parkes win the draw at centre ice. Parkes skated through the Windsor defense and fired high to tie the game at 2 with her unassisted second tally of the contest.

Wilson looked to put the Sting in the lead when she skated through the neutral zone and gained the Windsor blueline. Mackenzie’s hard shot found the keepers chest and the score remained deadlocked.

Boersma dumped the puck in deep to Parkes. Parkes shot was denied but the puck was kept alive by Ginger Ruypers and Riddoch. The Sting line kept the pressure in the Windsor end but could not convert their chances.

Vanden Eynde looked to take matters in to her own hands and skated end to end. A hard shot was saved and the rebound deflected to Ruypers in front. Ruypers could not find the hands to put the puck past the prone goalie and once again Windsor had dodged a Sting bullet.

The ensuing face off was won by Wilson back to Vanden Eynde at the point. Vanden Eynde spotted Riddoch to the right of the goal but the ensuing shot was stopped by the Windsor goalie.

With 1:06 remaining in the contest Windsor gained the Sarnia zone. A poor clearing attempt was kept in at the Blueline. A shot from in front of the Sting goal, hit the post and bounced into the crease.  An unlucky Norland saw the shot hit her and back into the net for a 3-2 Windsor advantage.

Sarnia pulled Norland for the extra attacker. Sarnia was able to win a faceoff deep in the Windsor end but a mad scramble did not result in a shot and Windsor had upset the Sting with a 3-2 victory at home.