DURHAM – The Mount Forest bantam Rams got a complete-game effort from
their entire team en route to a narrow 2-1 victory over arch-rivals, the
Chatsworth Township Rebels, in opening-round action at the WOAA
year-end tournament.
Friday night’s contest saw captain Haven L. score the game-winner on a dandy solo dash mid-way through the second period.
After battling back from a one-goal deficit, the Rams held on for dear life as the explosive Rebels pushed hard for the equalizer, nearly taking advantage of a late powerplay and also pulling their goalie for a dangerous two-man advantage.
Haven won a number of key faceoffs late in the game to preserve the win and her Ram teammates did the rest.
Rams goalie Alyssa V. posted her 36th victory of the season, turning aside 14 shots, including that late flurry from the Rebels on Friday.
Earlier in the game, the Mount Forest girls surrendered an early power-play goal to the Rebels but mostly battened down the hatches thereafter.
Rams small-but-mighty winger Charlotte T. was a force throughout the game, buzzing around the Rebels’ net. Her efforts paid off as she squared matters, less than a minute after Chatworth’s only goal, with a slick tap-in.
“We were playing under difficult circumstances on Friday night. The coaches challenged our girls to respond and they sure did,” said Rams assistant coach Christine R.
“We couldn’t be prouder of our team. There are wins and then there are team wins. This was definitely a team win because every one of our girls gave their heart and soul out there.”
The Rams are back in action at the WOAA year-end tourney on Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest against South Bruce and another game at 5 p.m. versus the Kincardine Kinucks.
In earlier action at the event, South Bruce rallied from an early deficit to tie Kincardine 1-1.