HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-11-11, Page 17Win OFSAA field hockey championship
Panthers restore the roar
By Ray Lewis
T -A Staff
TORONTO - 1t wasn't supposed
to be this close. In fact, it wasn't
even supposed to happen. It was.
It did. They did. They are the
members of South Huron District
' High School's girls' field hockey
squad who Saturday, clinched their
second OFSAA title in four years.
"It's the best way to end your
high school career," said an emo-
tional captain Wendi Sims who
graduates this year. "People kept
telling us we couldn't do it."
Last year's talented squad bowed
out in the quarter -finals against
Bayview, and with 10 players from
that team graduating, the crew of
'92 wasn't even given a chance.
But they just kept rolling along.
After capturing the school's tenth
consecutive Huron -Perth title by
beating St. Marys, they struck gold
in penalty flicks with their sixth -
straight WOSSA championship,
again knocking off St. Marys.
Then it was off to OFSAA where
they compiled a 2-0-1 mord to fm-
ish first in their pool. Friday after-
noon they easily beat Hamilton's
Glendale 3-0 in quarterfinal action.
That set up Saturday's semi-final
match against Toronto Stephen
Leacock, the only team to beat
South Huron this season.
The Panthers took the game 1-0
in penalty flicks, and then knocked
off Kingston LaSalle for OFSAA
gold.
"I'm still not sure what hap-
pened," said an elated coach Jim
Bro►tyn Baynham, left; tried to get the ball during a pool -play
game.
Workman. "We just improved as
we went along. We have no super-
stars, no standouts, just a good
bunch of hard-working kids that
played well as a team."
In fact, asked to pick a star for
the Panthers, the coach was at a bit
of a loss saying it was too close to
call.
"To be perfectly honest, I don't
remember anyone who didn't do
their job. They were fast, aggres-
sive and they were cohesive, and
those were the three most impor-
tant elements of our game."
With the victory at OFSAA,
South Huron should finally receive
some of the respectability they de-
serve in a sport dominated by the
much larger Toronto schools, and
the hometown fans did their best to
come out and cheer Saturday night
as the champions returned for the
traditional ride on the fire truck.
"There was quite a crowd of peo-
ple waiting who gave us a great re-
ception," smiled Workman. "I no-
ticed a lot of signs around town
and word must have spread fast be-
cause someone said they were up
by five o'clock."
South Huron postgd a 24-1-5
record over the year, a rld-irr Huron -
Perth conference play outsbored
their opponents 40-1.
It was a record twelfth trip to the
all -Ontario tournament for the Pan-
thers, and talk at this year's finale
was one of worry from other
coaches. South Huron captured the
title with time starters who had
never even played the game before
this season, and the squad may lose
only two players through gradua-
tion.
With South Huron hosting the
OFSAA tournament react year, and
their lineup returning virtually in-
tact, Toronto teams especially are
fearing dynasty.
South Huron 2,
Kingston LaSalle 0
In the championship game, South
Auxin took control early but
couldn't convert despite several
close calls. After the Panthers hit
the post twice, the many fans who
braved the cold were beginning to
wonder if it would be a contest
where one team presses but the oth-
er wins on a lucky bounce.
Carta Taylor finally gave sup-
porters and teammates the chance
to celebrate, when she banged
home a rebound in a goal -mouth
scramble l8 minutes into the first
half.
South Huron continued the pres-
sure throughout the second half
wad with under two minutes to go
Bknyn Baynham clutched the
gaffe with an insurance goal.
"9t wasn't as big a struggle," said
Workman comparing the game to
the victory over Leacock. "But it
was nice to see Brenyn's goal. Be-
ing only one up all you need is one
slip."
South Huron 1,
Leacock 0
For the Panthers, winning the
championship was almost anti -
climatic after their hard-fought
semi-final victory against Toronto
Stephen Leacock Rebel Lions.
South Huron lost only one game
this season, a 1-0 heartbreaker in
the last two minutes to Leacock at
the Kitchener Tournament. For the
Panthers, it was sweet revenge and
a shot at respectability.
The game itself was classic. At
tines South Huron held a distinct
advantage, but for the most part it
was an even baule. Midfielders
Sims, Cara Gardner and Lynn
Workman maintained control and
fed forwards Taylor and Danielle
Miners who narrowly missed.
Baynham had a chance to put it
away in the first half, but the frozen
turf had other ideas popping the
ball over her stick riapr,lbe. had
beltten the Leacock
When the pressure was on them,
keeper Tonya Riehl held her
ground stopping the shots while the
defense led by Lisa Forrest swept
rehouses clear.
The score remained 0-0 after reg-
ulation - forcing two, seven and a
half minute ,periods of overtime.
Still scoreless, the teams battled
through another lOwrirtutes of sud-
den -death overtime before going to
penalty flicks.
Each team sent their five best
players to the line. South Huron
missed .their first two shots, but
Lynn Workman scored on the third
firing the ball into the top left cor-
ner. The Panthers thought they had
another when rookie Gardner blew
Continued on page 21
Celebrating just seconds after their victory were Jim Workman, left, and several members of
the South Huron girls' field hockey team.
Workman - Coach of the Year
By Ray Lewis
T -A Staff
TORONTO - The South Huron girls' field hockey
team had plenty to cheer about even before their all -
Ontario victory Saturday. as coach Jim Workman re-
ceived coach -of -the -year honours Thursday evening.
The announcement came during the.annual tourna-
ment banquet, that Workman was being recognized by
the Ontario Federation of Schools Athletic Association
(OFSAA), for outstanding leadership in high school
sport.
The award is given to only one coach in the province
in each spoil, .and .the. recipient is chosen by. the OF -
SAA office and the chairperson of the Sports Advisory
Committee.
Workman has spent the past 19 seasons coaching
field hockey at South Huron, a program he instigated
upon his arrival. Since that time his teams have cap-
tured 10 consecutive Huron -Perth titles and six -
straight WOSSA titles. In addition, they have quali-
fied for theprovincial tournament in 12 of the 14 years
it has been held, striking gold in 1990 and again this
Year.
Despite his success as a high school coach, the
award came as a definite surprise.
"It was very exciting I must admit," said a modest
Workman. "I had no idea it was taming."
To host OFSAA
Before plans of repeating this year's OFSAA cham-
pionship can begin, Waltman already has the task of
hosting the 1993 tournament.
South Huron last played host to OFSAA in 1980. but
the event itself was held in London for lack of facili-
ties. With 16 teams avuaging 20 players per team. not
to mention fans and media, it could multiply into a lot
of money for the immediate community, especially in
terms of accommodations.
Workman is hoping the three-day tournament will
becooie a oo nmunity event, .Where More people can
get involved.
"We're hoping for the teams to stay in the immediate
area," said Workman. "It would be unfortunate if eco-
nomics dic$Med ebewhere."
In addition,;field apace is another gdcsdon which
probably won't be answamd until spring. The high
school has space for two fields and there may be room
at the nee mode for a third. Other thin thtat,°WQrlanen
mid bell have to explore other possibilities for a
fourth.
Do the Mohawks
need to fall?
h the thrill of vic-
tory and the agony
of defeat.
The clip at the
start of the Wide World of
Sports had a poor chap crash-
ing down the side of a ski hill
and his skis, arms and legs
going just about every -which -
way imaginable.
Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.
How many times have you heard that one?
True, winning is great, it gives one a sense of accomplish-
ment. Losing brings the old cliches like, 'you tried your best',
and 'but sports is for the fun of it.'
Those are smatterings of cheeriness to help someone who
just lost the big game, but often, it's not enough. Tears are al-
ways there, men or women, and with it, often comes the
thought of failure.
Saturday night, while pulling myself off the carpet in front
of my fireplace, I headed over to the high school to join doz-
ens of others in congratulating the South Huron District High
School girls' field hockey team.
They came home with the gold, symbolic of being the best
high school team in this province. That's quite an accomplish-
ment and girls, and coach Jim Workman, from the Times -
Advocate to you, congratulations.
But if they hadn't won, if they came back with a silver or
even a bronze medal, how many people would have been out
there in the cold waiting from the bus to come back from To-
ronto.
I hate to say it, but I might not have been.
It's been a long time since Exeter has had four provincial
championship teams in a span of just over six months. I'd
have to check with Ron Bogart or Ross Haugh to find out
when the last time our town's had this many winners.
The Exeter Mohawks won the Senior 'A' hockey crown, the
RSD Midget Generals beat Clinton and in the summer, the
Exeter Royals won the OASA bantam boys fastball champi-
onship.
For someone like Sean McCann who was on the fastball
and Generals championship teams, winning has been a big
part of his life lately.
But I think with this young man's maturity and outstanding
athletic ability, he's there to give 100 percent, being the best
and taking home a championship is a bonus.
Our senior hockey club, the one we help pay the bills for
and the one we support, is in big trouble right now. They are
champs who have fallen upon some hand times.
If the next few paragraphs sound like a plea for help it is...
The Mohawks have several strikes against them already this
year. They have to do their very best to repeat as champs. Fan
support is way down. It takes a lot of money to run this club
and money right now as we all know is hard to find.
They practice at very late hours and getting home for some
of the boys means the alarm clock is going off pretty early the
next morning. Perhaps that's why attendance player wise has
been light for games.
This isn't an organization, whether it be from the executive
to the players and eoathes, who feel they jusYt-anap their fm-
gers or wiggle their noses and the jobs done. Everyone I have
met with this club is a hard worker.
Getting, fans out to the games mean you have to give the
people what they want. Everyone wants a winner, well Exeter
we've got one. The Mohawks don't win every game and they
have competition with several other teams, so the games are
)ften close.
Maybe, just maybe this club needs a year of total failure. To
ose more than half the games, to have players ejected con -
Lindy and have less than 100 percent effort from everyone
nvolved.
Perhaps that way, others will come forward, watch the
games and cheer when Exeter scores a goal or makes a nice
play.
sidelines
by
Fred
(;roves
Bur no one likes failure
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