Submitted by Scott Biesenthal
The Saugeen Maitland Midget AA traveled to Sarnia on Jan 31- Feb 2
to play in the International Silver Stick Tournament. Game one had the
Lightning up against Honeybaked from Detroit.
Honeybaked opened the scoring in the first but the Maitland girls evened it up
before the period was over as Sarah Biesenthal tucked one into the cage from
Kelsey Dixon.
At the end of 2 periods Honeybaked had a 2-1 lead. After the flood the Saugeen girls came out and showed some real character battling back to even the score at 2. Lexi Smith would score from Tori Terpstra and Mel Nolan. This was not the last time we would hear from this line. With time ticking down Nolan would fire in the game winner on a real nice passing play from Terpstra and Smith. Final score 3-2 Bolts, Rebecca Ropp picked up the win between the pipes.
Game 2 on Saturday morning had the ladies up against league rivals Chatham. Chatham struck first, but that was the one and only goal they would get as Morgan Baker would shut the door. Lightning picked up the win 3-1. Scoring for the Lightning was Biesenthal from Dawn Pletsch and Dixon, Ashlee Lawrence from Neve VanPelt and Jamie Simpson and Lawrence again from VanPelt.
Guelph was the opponent for game 3. Ropp had the start, she put a wall up and picked up a 4-0 shut out victory. Terpstra would open the scoring in the first unassisted. VanPelt, Smith and Lawrence would round out the scoring. Helpers were picked up by Lawrence, Nolan, Kailyn Soers, Cassidy Colhoun, Ciara Lark, Maddie Duncan, Avery Reeves and VanPelt.
The 3-0 start would net the Saugeen girls first in their pool and set up a semi final date with Haldimand on Sunday morning. In an “aggressive” game, the Bolts struck first and often for a convincing 5-0 victory. Baker had some key saves early and this allowed the Lightning offence to get going. VanPelt, Lawrence, Terpstra, Nolan and Simpson would all find the back of the cage. Helpers were awarded to Colhoun(2), VanPelt(2), Nikki Zabel(2) and singles to Jordyn Sholdice, Lawrence, Smith, Terpstra and Nolan.
In the final game, Saugeen would meet Honeybaked again. Ropp had the start between the twin posts. Honeybaked would initiate scoring 12 seconds into the first period. Saugeen would show grit and character battling back to even the score by the end of the first period. Pletsch picked up the goal with help from Dixon. Each team would go on to score 2 more and regulation time would end knotted at 3. The Lightning charged up and overtime began, with 1:26 left on the clock in the first overtime period Simpson would find the back of the net to give the Bolts their first tournament win of the season. Lawrence would pick up 2 goals and the MVP award. Helpers were Van Pelt (2), Colhoun (2), Zabel, and Lawrence. Well done Ladies and bench staff!