Townies Trounce Blues
THE OU WOMEn'S Ice Hockey Club put on their best-ever showing against the Oxford City Zodiacs this season but lost.
The first period was an opportunity for both teams to size each other up. The Blues kept pace with the Zodiacs and it was just a slip at 5:54 that gave the Zodiacs their first goal past Blues net minder Kat Yates. The Uni team rallied and the forward line of Felicity Bulmer, Sahar Gordiz and Kara Nelson got the majority of the period's five shots on net. At one point Nelson got two of her own rebounds but could not stuff one past Boyce. The Zodiacs got their second goal at 12:16 with a screened shot on Yates.
The second period was the Blues weakest. Yates' stand-up play kept the Blues in the game as the Zodiacs tried to wear her down with shots from all angles. The Zodiacs were able to contain their University rivals in the neutral zone and kept the pressure on by keeping the puck in the Blues' end for most of the period. This meant that the Blues were not able to break out often and could not get a single shot on the Zodiac net. The constant pressure also yielded the Zodiacs' third goal at 22:57. The Blues coach put in his other keeper Marianne Fedunkiw after the goal and the Zodiacs tested her almost immediately with a lone-player rush. Fedunkiw made the save and her hardworking defense took care of the rebound.
The single lapse in the third period came on a Zodiac rush 10 minutes into the period. The player zipped up centre ice, with Ryder giving chase; Fedunkiw came out to poke check the puck. Ryder and Eckered came in to take care of the rebound but ended up tangled in the sprawling 'keeper. Zodiac Hanna had arrived in the slot and batted the puck in for the Zodiacs fourth marker.
Veteran forward Seyler showed off her backchecking and communication skills throughout this match, played on her birthday. Fellow centre Gordiz, who has been racking up penalty minutes for her feisty play this season, was sent to the sin bin for slashing with less than two minutes left in the match. The Uni team played out the dying minutes almost entirely in their own end. The Zodiacs had lots of shots on net but could not capitalise so the game ended with the best score this season for the Blues, 4-0.
Rookie defense Barber was recognised with 'Spirit of the Match' for the Blues while Bob Shelley got the trophy for the Zodiacs. Eckered, the rock-solid Swede, was named Player of the Match for the Blues. The game drew 60 fans, three of whom bared some skin to show their support and at least one who travelled from Toronto, Canada to cheer on the Blues.
13th Feb 2003