Mar 20, 2011 | Howie Pruden | 966 views
Lightning Zaps Outlaws
In game 1 of the division finals Saugeen surprises hometown Chatham with a 3-2 victory. Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday March 26 at 12:30 at Howick. A victory at home would send the Lightning to the League Championship. We encourage all fans to come out and support the Lightning and cheer them on to victory.
Saugeen came out rusty after the March break and did not play to the level they can but marched out to a 2 goal lead at the 2nd period break.
Cassidy Mason opened the scoring on a goal mouth scramble in the first period assisted by Tori Harshman. With 2 minutes to play in the second Reagan Kaufman drove down the left side and fired a shot from the top of the circle over the goal tender's shoulder to give the Lightning a 2 goal cushion in the break.
Chatham came out hard early in the third and on a mixup on defense the Outlaw player was left alone and had a break away from her blue line. She made a nice deke on Rebecca to put the Outlaws on the board. Saugeen took a penalty 30 seconds later and a minute into the penalty Chatham scored to knot the game at 2.
Coach Spielmacher called a time out and got the girls settled down. Chatham took a penalty 1 minute later putting Saugeen on the power play. The line of Harshman, Terpstra and Mason quickly got the play into Chatham's end and with excellent puck movement found Tori Terpstra at the side of the net for the open net goal. Cassidy and Tori Harshman drew assists on the game winning goal.
Chatham pulled the goaltender but to no avail and Saugeen held the lead and takes game one. Rebecca Ropp played outstanding stopping a break away in the 2nd and turning away 19 of 21 shots for the W. Rebecca also made many key saves in the third and controlled rebounds for no second chances.
The coach commented that "it was far from our best game of the year but they perservered". Coach MacDonald calls it "stick-to it-ness" the girls got in trouble but got back to basics and finished the game plan and were rewarded with the win. "Great goaltending and excellent special team performance are winning games for us and will carry us well into provincial's and league playdowns" added coach Spielmacher.
Good luck Saturday and stick to it ness!