The Stratford Classic Competitive Tournament

June 29 & 30th

The Sarnia Spirit U13 girls captured the GOLD medal championship in the Stratford Classic competitive tournament held June 29 & 30th.  The girls made it through the qualifying rounds with 2 wins, 1 loss and a tie to advance them to the final rounds against the Guelph Royals.  The two teams made it through 70 minutes of regulation play followed by two 5 min. overtime halves only to end up in a scoreless tie.  It would come down to penalty shots to decide the winner of the tournament.  Mackenzie Turner, Spirit's goaltender would come up with the big saves with the deciding shot coming down to the final Spirit shooter putting it away for the win.

The first half of game 1 in round robin play vs. the Guelph Royals was played mostly in Guelph’s end.  Sarnia was able to capitalize early with a corner kick from Lilia Pasqual strategically placing the ball right out front of the net finding Alicia DaSilva who was there to head in a beautiful ball.  After several other attempts and strong play by the Spirit midfielders, the score would remain at 1-0.  Three minutes into the 2^nd half Guelph would sail a high ball over the Sarnia goalkeeper.  With an attempted save by Turner in net, it wasn’t quite enough.  Sarnia battled back and tried for the go-ahead goal but couldn’t get it pass the Royals keeper.  Guelph would find the winning goal at the 10 min. mark coming away with the win, 2-1.

The second game vs. Woolwich Wolf Pack started off in Sarnia’s favour 5 minutes into the game with a nice through ball by Amy Rawlings up the midfield to Alicia DaSilva who would rifle a shot and sail it high over the opposition’s net.  At the 18 minute mark, Alicia DaSilva fired another shot directed to the left side of the net, the keeper would attempt the save, the ball came back out finding Danielle Graham who was right on the mark and tapped in the 2^nd goal.  Going into the 2^nd half the Spirit ‘s confidence was up but they knew they needed to continue with the sustained pressure in Woolwich’s end.  20 minutes into the 2^nd half, Lilia Pasqual got control of the ball in the middle of the field passing it up to one of her forwards Allison Deery who would find the back of the net putting Spirit up by 3.  With only minutes left in the game, Woolwich would answer with their only goal of the game beating Mackenzie Turner for the first time this game, tucking one in the corner of the net.

On Saturday night, Sarnia was up against the tournament hosts, Stratford Strikers.  The game would remain scoreless until the 23-minute marker when Melissa Blair would take the ball in on the goalie and let the shot go, the ball came loose back out in front of the net and Melissa Blair would be there to follow up lifting one high in the left corner of the net.  It would remain 1-0 at the half.  Early into the 2^nd half at around the 8-minute mark, Alicia DaSilva would come in from the corner of the field letting one fly in past the goalie.  The Stratford keeper would attempt a diving save into the net, but to no avail.  Strong defensive play by Sarnia would give them the win and Mackenzie Turner would earn the shutout.

On Sunday morning, Sarnia Spirit found themselves up against NorWest Fury.  A win would guarantee the Spirit girls to advance to the finals.  NorWest would come out striking first at the 10-minute mark scoring high on Mackenzie Turner.  Responding just 5 minutes later, Danielle Graham crossed the ball just wide of the net, the goalie went down to attempt the save when Allison Deery responded precisely at the right moment to tap it in.  The game would end in a tie, but Sarnia would advance to the finals based on their 2^nd place finish in round robin play.      

Guelph & Sarnia battled through 70 minutes of regulation play followed by two 5 min. overtime halves only to end up in a scoreless tie.  It would come down to penalty shots to decide the winner of the tournament.  Mackenzie Turner, Spirit's goaltender would come up with the big saves with the deciding shot coming down to the final Spirit shooter putting it away for the win.  Scoring in the shootout in order, were: Lilia Pasqual, Alicia DaSilva, Melissa Blair, Riley Wilhelm and Amy Rawlings.

Way to go Spirit!