2014 Esso Cup

TRIO OF LADY WOLVES SERVES UP DEUCES

by Wendy Graves

STONEY CREEK, Ont. – One minute, 24 seconds.

That’s how long it took for things to go bad for the Fraser Valley Phantom.

Goals from Karli Shell (Lively, Ont.), Victoria Pitawanakwat (Manitowaning, Ont.) and Kennedy Lanktree (Mindemoya, Ont.) during an 84-second span of the first period staked the Sudbury Lady Wolves to a 3-0 lead, and well on the way to a 6-3 win.

The trio later scored again. Jamie Ricci (Sudbury, Ont.) and Stephanie Legault (Dowling, Ont.) chipped in with two assists apiece.

Chelsea Wilson’s (Langley, B.C.) hat trick provided all of the Phantom’s offence. Mackenzie Wong (Surrey, B.C.) and Brianna Keats (Chilliwack, B.C.) both picked up two assists.

Fraser Valley came in knowing it needed a win to improve its playoff chances. The coaching staff again donned its rally scarves, which had served the team well in its win over Moncton the previous day.

The Phantom were given a glorious opportunity to take control of the game when they went on the power play four and a half minutes in.

But it would be Sudbury getting on the board first, 25 seconds after killing the penalty.

Shell broke in from the corner, shoveling a backhand high past Valencia Yordanov (Port Coquitlam, B.C.).

That goal was still being announced when a Pitawanakwat shot from the face-off dot went top corner.

Needing to regroup after surrendering two goals on five shots, Yordanov took to the bench for a breather.

New goalie Morgan Symington (Surrey, B.C.) couldn’t stop the bleeding, though. Exactly one minute after coming into the game, she was beat and back on the bench.

Using a defender as a screen, Lanktree’s shot from the face-off dot found the far side post.

Her second of the game came later in the period on the power play. This time with Legault providing the screen, Lanktree finished a cross-ice pass from Shell.

“Karlie and I have been playing on the same line since Atom,” Lanktree said. “We just know where each other is (going to be).”

Shell scored her second of the game – and seventh of the tournament – after picking a defender’s pocket and beating Yordanov in tight.

It took until just past the 17-minute mark of the second for Fraser Valley to find its way onto the board.

With players from both sides buzzing around the net, Wilson tapped in the puck with two seconds left on the power play.

Two more goals in the third from Wilson – both on rebounds – bookended Pitawanakwat’s second of the game.

Danika Lefrancois (Sudbury, Ont.) made 24 saves in the win.