Angels Clinch Semi Final with Shootout Win

With the victory, LFA will finish as high has it at Bridgman in more than a decade. The Bridgman Tournament is BC's premier field hockey tournament, attracting the very best teams from across the province. LFA is one of only 4 AA teams participating, so to have a chance at the final is an accomplishment the girls are very excited about, especially as so many of the girls put in a valiant effort last year, but had to eventually settle for 16th.

Argyle was always going to require the very best effort possible from our team. Everyone stepped up their game, which went from end to end throughout. For all the chances that Athena Pucovsky '19 saved at one end, we had our own on the Argyle keeper at the other end. In fact, if there were two stars from this game, it was the goalies. That said, there were a couple of absolute stand-out performances that allowed us to take the game to Argyle. Ava MacFarlane '20 was instrumental, never once failing to keep Argyle's principal threat in check. It was a clinic in defensive responsibility, while she also contributed to our Angel attack throughout. Mira Teoli '18 may have played her best game in LFA colours. Tenacious all over the pitch, she was relentless in covering the threat coming out of the back field while never once forgetting her routes on the attack. She was all over the field and a huge asset throughout. Finally, Ashley Klomp '18 deserves special accolades for a dominant performance at central defence. Not only did she neutralize everything that came her way, she was key to our ability to build attack out of the backfield. Notwithstanding these special performances, this was a full team effort from beginning to end.

The score wrapped at 0-0, despite an incredible chance that fell to Allison Kuzyk '20 in the final five minutes. She pulled around the keeper after fending off several Argyle defenders and looked to have scored a sure goal, only to be denied by a desperation dive by the goalie. It quickly went to shoot-out, where Gabby Lee '19 opened the scoring on a lovely left move with a right cut-back spin. She patiently out-waited the goalie and slipped into the corner of the net by only the very slimmest of margins. Ava was up next, where she wasted no time in letting a solid, low shot perfectly to the corner. Allison finished our three-for-three with a lovely pull right and a patient wait around the sprawling goalie. Meanwhile, Athena was brilliant. Stopping three-of-four, she fought off every initial shot and was dogged in her pursuit of the rebounds. It was an impressive win. 

So now it's on to the semi-finals against the very best team in the province. Go Angels!