The CV Field Hockey League U14 club team was in North Vancouver this past weekend competing in the U14 Provincial Club Championships which was played at the William Griffin artificial turf field. The team had an outstanding weekend finishing with a record of 2-2-1.
The first game the CV Eagles played on Saturday was against a fast team from Burnaby. The play was high paced and there was action at both ends of the field. Despite some excellent goal tending from Sarita Serafini, and strong defensive play by Rachel McMahon, Brooke Chapman and Priya Dawadi, the Eagles lost 1-0 in an evenly fought battle. Their next game was against a very aggressive team from Richmond. The Richmond squad seemed to set the pace by taking quick free hits and controlling the play in the mid-field. Richmond got on the scoreboard first with a goal scored from a messy play in front of the net. The Eagles came storming back with a goal of their own from an amazing individual effort by Avery Snider. She seemed to dribble the ball from the centre of the field through the entire Richmond defense making a quick move to beat the keeper. This effort by Snider really sparked the Eagles team who seemed to turn up the pressure on the Richmond squad. Despite numerous attempts to score, the Eagles could not finish. The Richmond team then turned the tides and forced the Eagles to play tough defense in front of their net. A play that was originally called as a penalty corner by the umpire, somehow ended up as a goal in the back of the net. The stunned Eagles were forced to accept a 2-1 loss, a little bitter from the officiating.
After feeling a little disappointed by the previous loss, the CV Eagles were determined to win their final game of the day against the Tri-City Red Hawks who had previously beat the Richmond squad 3-1. The first half of this game seemed to be controlled by the Red Hawks who were dominating the Eagles defensive zone. The Eagles mid-fielders, Alisa Tatham, Danielle Poirier, and Hannah Bolton managed to get the ball out of their own end and up to the Eagles forwards. Their efforts were rewarded and before the first half came to an end, the Eagles found the back of the net off a great shot by Avery Snider from the slot. The Eagles never looked back in this game, controlling the play and scoring two more goals, one by Snider off a great pass from Michaela Ashlee and one by Danielle Vanbergen assisted by Snider.
The next morning the CV Eagles had to play the early bird game at 8:00am. With the weather damp and cool, the Eagles seemed to still be sleeping during the first half of this game against the West Vancouver Cheetahs. The Cheetahs got on the scoreboard first with a deflection from a right side cross ball. This seemed to wake the Eagles up and they began to play with a little more life. With all of the play down in the Cheetah’s defensive end, frustration started to set-in as the Eagles could not find the back of the net. Despite all of the play down in the West Van’s end, they managed to get a lucky break and put one past Eagles Sarita Serafini to put the score up 2-1 for the Cheetahs. The Eagles continued to work the ball into the Cheetah’s circle, but again struggled to get one to count. The Eagles coach was quoted as saying she felt like the Vancouver Canucks facing Tim Thomas from the Boston Bruins. Finally Eagle’s efforts paid off and Vanbergen got a first timer off a crossed ball from Jenna deWitt. The game ended in a 2-2 tie but the Eagles had played one of their best games of the tournament.
In the final game of the tournament, the Eagles faced another West Vancouver team, the Kiwis. This game was owned by the CV squad. Danielle Poirier had one of her best games of the tournament controlling the pace of this game by taking quick free hits and distributing the ball to both sides of the field. The Eagles put one past the Kiwi keeper early with a great cross ball pass from Michaela Ashlee and finished with a first timer by Danica Sakaluk. Eagles struck again before the first half with an excellent shot from the top of the circle by Poirier. In the second half, the Eagles seemed to be in complete control, passing and moving the ball freely leaving the West Van team standing still. Two more goals were scored by the Eagles; one from a rocket penalty corner shot by Poirier, and the other from a scramble rebound in front of the net by Sakaluk. Other players involved in these great offensive plays were Taylor Mackinnon, Hannah Bolton, and Kelsey Middleton. The girls were very happy to have finished off the tournament on a winning note.
The CV Eagles would like to thank the U14 team manager, Lisa Wilman, and the parents and other family members that cheered on the team in their games. They would also like to thank the Club sponsor, Knappet Construction.