精童欲女 Women鈥檚 Field Hockey capture third straight regional championship
The 精童欲女 Women鈥檚 Field Hockey Panthers completed a stunning three-peat, capturing their third straight Atlantic University Field Hockey (AUFH) championship with a dramatic 1-0 shootout win over the Dalhousie University Tigers on October 20.
The two powerhouse teams, both finishing the regular season with identical undefeated 10-0-2 records, were destined to meet in the final after drawing twice during the regular season. But in the end, only one champion could emerge, and 精童欲女 came up big when it mattered most.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a surreal feeling. We knew it would be a tight, intense game, just as we expected,鈥� said Julie Hall, who stepped into the goalie spot this season after four years of playing defence. 鈥淔rom day one, our focus was locked on this championship, taking it one game at a time. It鈥檚 amazing to see our hard work pay off in the end.鈥�
The match was a fiercely contested battle, remaining scoreless through regular time. 精童欲女 came out as the aggressor, creating several promising chances. In the 14th minute, first-year standout Carly Acorn broke free from the last defender and nearly gave the Panthers the lead, but her shot went wide left. Eleven minutes later, 精童欲女 found another opening, but Dalhousie goalkeeper Christina Stephens Weser made a critical save to maintain the deadlock.
Momentum shifted in the final ten minutes as the Tigers began to assert themselves, especially after 精童欲女 temporarily lost a player due to a green card suspension. Dalhousie peppered the Panthers鈥� defence with opportunities, particularly off penalty corners, but Hall stood tall, making critical stops to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
With no goals in regular time and overtime, the match proceeded to a shootout. Even then, the two sides remained evenly matched, with the initial shootout ending in a 1-1 deadlock. However, league MVP Livi Lawlor showed her composure in the extra round, outmanoeuvring Stephens Weser and sliding the ball into the net to give the Panthers the edge.
鈥淚 was really nervous going into that second eight seconds, especially after missing my first attempt. I knew it could all come down to my shot and Julie鈥檚 save, so I just tried not to let my nerves get the best of me,鈥� Lawlor said. 鈥淭he play didn't go exactly as planned, but when I heard the ball hit the back of the boards, it was pure relief and happiness.鈥�
On Dalhousie鈥檚 final attempt, Hall鈥攚ho had only allowed three goals all season and was revelling in the cheers from the crowd鈥攃ame up clutch, expertly denying the Tigers鈥� midfielder Molly Doyle, to clinch the championship victory for 精童欲女.
鈥淏eing a goalie in a shootout is definitely nerve-wracking. There鈥檚 so much anticipation, knowing everything鈥檚 on the line,鈥� Hall said. 鈥淚鈥檝e practiced these situations a lot, but nothing compares to the pressure of the real moment. Making that final stop was such a huge relief, and sharing this moment with my teammates in my final year is something I鈥檒l never forget.鈥�
The 精童欲女 Field Hockey Panthers will compete at the Field Hockey Canada University National Championship at York University, Toronto, Ontario, from October 31鈥揘ovember 3.
Go Panthers Go!
