Bantam C girls solid defensively
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Defensively, the Tillsonburg Underhill’s Farm Supply Lightning Bantam C girls weren’t that bad Sunday.
They got a shutout in a WOGHL second-round league hockey game.
So did BAD (Belmont-Aylmer-Dorchester) Blazers in a scoreless draw at the Kinsmen Memorial Arena.
“We’ve been battling a few sicknesses,” said Underhill’s Farm Supply coach Jerry DeBackere, “and it’s affected some of the play. It started just before Christmas with our tournament in St. Thomas – we had a few players with flu, and some colds.”
Tillsonburg struggled through the tournament, and they’re just starting to get healthy again.
“The games were close, but again, the sicknesses played a big role in that one. We have a tournament coming up the first weekend after New Year’s in Woodstock (Wildcats tourney). In February we have our Silver Stick at Saugeen Shores.
“Hopefully everybody will be in better health in the New Year,” said DeBackere, noting Jayden Simmonds came up from the Peewee C Lightning team for the Dec. 30 game.
The Lightning (9-0-3) averaged just under 2.5 goals per game through the first dozen games in Round 1, to lead the combined eight-team C/House League division.
Since moving up to a six-team all-C division early in December, they have one goal in five games, including back-to-back scoreless ties, with an 0-2-3 record.
“We’re playing pretty even with the opposing teams, but we can’t seem to find that scoring edge. Most of the games in the first round were one-goal differences.”
Lambton Shores, East Lambton, and Seaforth are all new second-round opponents for Tillsonburg. Seaforth was 0-10-1 in the first-round B/C division, prompting the drop.
East Lambton (3-0-1) currently leads the second-round C, one point ahead of BAD (1-2-4), who have four ties.
“We’re finding (in the second round) that some of the teams are larger. With a shorter bench, and a few sicknesses, we’re trying to keep up by the third period.”
Both Tillsonburg bantam teams (B and C) have been drawing from the Lightning peewees.
“Sometimes you’re going nine skaters against 15. With a shorter bench, some players have been playing dual roles. They’re fitting together well, but we just can’t find that scoring edge right now. All the games have been close, it’s just a matter of getting the goals.”
In the second half of the season, DeBackere has noticed some of the teams are becoming more aggressive.
“This team (BAD) and Woodstock, they’re more aggressive towards the puck. They’ve stepped up their game, their passing is better and they’re more solid with their sticks. We still need to work on it.
“We have some players like that too, like Brooklyn MacDonald. She has a lot of spark, and she can give that spark to the team. She went down heavy this game, took the wind out of her the first time. She had a couple good chances near the crease, just couldn’t connect.”
Laura Cross also had an excellent chance in the final two minutes, cutting in from the right wing on a sharp angle with a low wrist shot.
Shots on goal were 13-13, said DeBackere, but BAD seemed to have an advantage setting up around the Tillsonburg net – and goalie Olivia Taylor – who got the shutout.
“When we get over all these sicknesses, we’ll start clicking again,” DeBackere summed up.