The New Westminster bantam girls lacrosse team recovered well from a rare loss to bound back and collect bronze at the provincial championships in Victoria on the weekend.
Backstopped by netminder Jenay Rennie, the Salmonbellies blanked Nanaimo 2-0 in the third-place game, with goals supplied by Heidi Sweeney and Sophie Morris. Drawing assists on both goals was provincial all-star Lauren Black.
Prior to that, the team had posted a 3-2 record in the tourney, with wins over Nanaimo (4-3), Burnaby (5-0) and Victoria (8-3), and losses of 5-4 to Ridge Meadows and 7-0 to Semiahmoo.
In the bronze game, Sweeney opened the scoring in the first period, cashing in a great setup from Black. No one scored again until late in the game when Morris converted a powerplay opportunity.
This year’s provincial roster was supplemented with four peewee call-ups: Kaya Bruce, Isabella McDonell, Mackenzie Planinsic and Alisha Hannay, who wa picked the MVP in the win over Victoria.
Other game MVPs were Michelle Barbu (Semiahmoo), Black (Ridge Meadows) and Morris (Nanaimo). Morris also received a Warrior player award.
Both Black and Morris will head to Calgary at the end of the month to compete at the nationals with Team B.C.
The Salmonbellies, who were coached by Matt Black and assistants Alyssa Husband, Courtney Lund-Murray and Brianne Lowka, are: Myrah Ali, Sashah Ali, Michelle Barbu, Lauren Black, Kaya Bruce, Jordyn Colville, Giulia DiPalma, Alisha Hannay, Isabella Krijgsveld, Sophia Mazzocchio, Isabella McDonell, Sophie Morris, Mackenzie Planinsic, Jenay Rennie, Amy Schweitzer, Heidi Sweeney and Tina Vagvolgy.
