Friday night the Vanier Spirits tested one of the best 3A teams in Saskatchewan before losing 3-1 to Regina Campbell.
“I think it was the best performance of any tournament we’ve played in in the past two years or so,” said Vanier coach Rick Spanjer. “To have Campbell on the heels for 75 per cent of the game, I think our girls did fantastic.”
After falling behind 1-0 in the second minute, Vanier had the bulk of the possession against last year’s Regina city champions for the rest of the first half.
“I think they rebounded well after that first goal,” said Spanjer. “I think once they found out that we were in their zone, they started to settle in and do some damage.”
Molly Cox scored in the second half, but Vanier weren’t able to bury the chances they created against a very sound Campbell side.
“Late in the game we started to push more people up and it produced a goal, but you have to give up something on the back end,” said Spanjer. “I still think for the most part we had a fair grasp of the game. I think we could have won it.”
Vanier beat Lloydminster Holy Rosary and Estevan 4-0 each. Allyson Gerhart scored twice against Holy Rosary, while Kaitlin Thiessen and Rashell Wozniak also scored. Thiessen, Gerhart, Cox and Linnea Smith scored against Estevan.
The loss drops Vanier into the 2nd place pool.
The other two local teams will play in the 3rd place pool.
Central saw their offence get into gear, but had to survive a late scare against North Battleford John Paul II in a 4-3 win. Camareigh Stewart scored twice and Chelsea Fielding and Amber Dorais also scored for the Cyclones.
Dorais’ goal put the Cyclones ahead 4-0, but Sheridyn Graham hit two long-range efforts just under the crossbar to get John Paul II on the board and make the final minutes far more interesting.
“It was a little scary there — it was 4-0 and then it’s 4-3 in the space of five minutes,” said Central coach Dave Moore.
Central lost 1-0 to Yorkton Sacred Heart before losing 5-1 to Regina LeBoldus. That loss was notable for a couple of reasons. Stewart dislocated her finger, went to the hospital and returned to the game in time to score Central’s goal. Moore also decided to push some of his most experienced players into the attack and it paid off with a goal.
“They were whipping us 4-0 and so we made a significant line change and put three of our stronger players, dropped them in front and thought ‘what the heck?’ said Moore. “We scored the goal and it turned it around for us.
“That was the first goal we’ve scored all season. I think they were beginning to think that they can’t do it.”
While the attack continued to roll against John Paul II, Moore felt the defence was starting to gel and catch on to what they were trying to teach them.
Peacock played to a 4-4 tie with Notre Dame as Amy van den Hooven scored twice while Brooke Baillie and Meghan Kardash also scored. The Tornadoes beat Caronport 6-1 and lost 8-0 to Prince Albert Carlton.
Caronport will play in the fourth place pool after losing 9-0 to Carlton and 3-0 to Notre Dame.
Carlton, Campbell, LeBoldus and Swift Current will meet in the championship pool with semifinals taking place Saturday morning.
“I think it was the best performance of any tournament we’ve played in in the past two years or so." - Rick Spanjer
