2005 Esso Women's Nationals

Ontario Host -5 British Columbia -0

Round Robin
March 11, 2005
Sarnia, ON

By Jill Galloway

Day 3 was a cold but sunny day in Sarnia that started early for the Host Team (Toronto Aeros) and Team BC as they faced off in the last game of the Pool A round robin at  the SSEC. These two teams both have records of 1-2 going into this match-up.  Ontario Host sits in 3rd place while BC is in 4th.

Both teams had their chances in the first period but Toronto outshot  BC 11-4.

BC’s Melissa Anderson had two great  chances but could not put it pass Host Team netminder Sammi Jo Smalls. BC goalie Jennifer Price played a great 1st period making numerous saves including one on a Haley Irwin breakaway at the 14 minute mark and 2 saves off great shots by Sommer West both in the last minute of the period. Each team had a powerplay opportunity but were not able to capitalize and the period ended scoreless.

The Host team come out very strong in the 2nd period as Lauren McAuliffe opened the scoring just two minutes into the period. Sommer West and Jennifer Botterill picked up the helpers on McAuliffe’s goal. Less then 2 minutes later Botterill scored on a backhanded deflection off a McAuliffe pass.  West scored her 5th goal of the tournament as she wristed one over the shoulder of Price from close range at the 7:30 mark to put Host Ontario up 3-0. Brandi Cochrane and Botterill picked up the assists.

The Botterill, West, McAuliffe line dominated in the 3rd period as well. Cassie Turner scored from West and McAuliffe 3:11 into the final period. Host Ontario wasn’t done yet as McAuliffe popped in her 2nd goal of the game a minute and forty seconds later. Botterill chipped in with her 3rd assist of the game on that marker. Host Ontario’s netminder Sammi Jo Smalls stopped 10 shots on net and picked up the shutout in the 5-0 victory.

Sommer West was the Player of the Game for Host Ontario.

Netminder Jennifer Price, who played outstanding in between the pipes for Team BC, was without question her team’s Player of the Game. Price kicked out 39 of the 44 shots she faced and she got a very hardy round of applause from spectators when she was named Player of the Game.

With this Host Team win and the Quebec win over Alberta, the Pool A standings

remain the same.  Team Ontario in first, Quebec in second, Host Team in third, BC in fourth and Alberta in fifth place.