The Times Advocate, 2008-11-12, Page 181
18 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 12, 2008
THIS WEEK IN SPORTS...
Juniors at Huron-Perh PAGE 19
Lucan-Ilderton Jets sputter PAGE 20
SPORTS TIP CONTACT TIMES -ADVOCATE
Ben Forrest • 519-235-1336 ext. 114
• Fax 519-235-0766 • E-mail bforrest@southhuron.com
SPORTS
LEISL'RE
Exeter resident Mercer contributes to U18 hockey chamuionshi
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
NAPANEE Exeter resident
Carly Mercer was among the
members of an elite Ontario team
who captured a U18 women's
championship Sunday, beating
Quebec 2-1.
Mercer, a Grade 11 student at
South Huron District High School
(SHDHS), was a member of Team
Ontario Red, the better of two On-
tario teams competing at the tour-
nament in Greater Napanee.
Ontario Red opened the scoring
late in the first period on a goal
from Cassandra Lanagan, but
no other goals were allowed un-
til Quebec's Marie Philip -Poulin
evened the score with eight min-
utes remaining in the third pe-
riod.
The game was decided 1:07 into
the second overtime on a break-
away goal from Ontario Red's Bri-
anne Jenner.
"I knew Quebec was a strong
team and they had been down
in the tournament before," said
Mercer after the game. "So I never
really knew we had it in the bag.
I just hoped that we could pull
through."
She admitted the game was
Golden girl Exeters Carly
Mercer is shown here with a
gold medal earned Sunday in the
final game of a U18 national
women s hockey tournament.
(Photo/submitted)
somewhat frustrating from an of-
fensive standpoint, but tipped her
hat to the opposition.
"We played against a pretty hot
goalie [Roxanne Douville, who
made 29 saves] and good de-
fence," she said.
Tryouts for Ontario Red began
in June, and those who were in-
vited attended a second training
camp in August.
Those who made the final cut
then gathered three weeks ago for
another camp and tune-up games
before the national championship
tournament, which began Nov 5.
Despite their short history to-
gether, chemistry on the team was
strong, according to Mercer.
"We all had one goal, and we
knew our roles on the team and
we all just came together to make
sure that happened," she said.
They were ecstatic when Jenner
scored the winning goal, Mercer
added.
"We came into the tournament
knowing that we wanted that
gold medal, and when she scored
that winning goal it was just great.
There was a lot of energy on the
bench and we were very excited."
Mercer finished with one goal
and one assist in the five -game
tournament, having embraced
a different role than she is ac-
customed to playing on her club
team, the Bluewater Jr. Hawks.
"I stepped into more of a grind-
ing role in the corners a lot," she
said. "Usually I am somewhat of a
scorer, but just did what I had to to
help out the team."
Indeed, there was an abundance
of scoring talent on the team, and
a number of players who had to
adjust.
"I understand that the coach-
es for this team had to go to the
players that were going to win
the game for us and the players
with the most experience," Mercer
said.
Mercer's future goals include a
provincial championship with the
Jr. Hawks, a spot on next year's
national U18 women's team, and a
scholarship to a Division -I Ameri
can university.
Playing in the Olympics is some-
thing she intends to work toward
as well.
She believes that simply playing
with her elite Ontario squad, how-
ever, has led to improvement both
on and off the ice.
"It was a great experience, and it
was good to be coached by really
experienced coaches that I have
not been coached by before," she
said. "They taught me a lot and
the girls off the ice taught me a lot
too."
Mercer's presence on Ontario
Red was also an enjoyable devel-
opment for her parents, Becky and
Brian.
Hawks beat Mt. Brydges, struggle against Lambeth
By Ben Forrest
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER The weekend just past was one
to remember for the Exeter Hawks, and also
one to forget.
Friday night s game against first -place Mt.
Brydges resulted in a 5-2 victory, thanks in
part to outstanding goaltending from Justin
Webb and a hat trick from forward Justin An-
stett.
Sunday against last -place Lambeth, the
Hawks surrendered five goals in the first pe-
riod and lost the game 7-3.
Mt. Brydges opened the scoring Friday on a
goal from Kyle Savage, but Anstett answered
back on a power play early in the second
frame, the assist going to Kurt Van Osch.
Mt. Brydges pulled ahead six minutes later,
but Exeter s Scott Muirhead evened the score
near the 15 -minute mark. The assists went to
Kenny Allen and Justin Reid.
Anstett then added two goals in the third
period, with assists from Nathan Kinsman
and Justin Reid.
Van Osch scored an empty-netter at the
19 -minute mark. Webb made 61 saves in the
effort.
The guys played with a bit of heart and
a lot of hustle, said Hawks coach Jamie
Pearce.
Webby played phenomenal. It s what
Getting after it — Exeter Hawks player Scott Muirhead battles for the puck against
a Mt. Brydges player in Fridays 5-2 win. (Photo/Pat Bolen)
we ve seen pretty much from him all year.
We don t expect him to stop 60 shots a game.
Unfortunately that s what he s been get-
ting.
Pearce added that Anstett played a really
good game, making the most of every scor-
ing opportunity he had.
That s the type of game we need from
Justin, and we need more of that from other
guys, Pearce said.
The score suggests the victory was more
decisive than it really was, Pearce believes.
We outplayed them in the third period
and that was the difference in the game, he
said.
Our guys really came to play. It was a
close game up until the third period, we got
a couple of key goals and Webby kept us in
the game.
The team struggled early against Lambeth,
though Pearce does not think his players
took their opponent lightly.
We weren t there for a whole first period,
and we basically ... we just didn t show up
for the hockey game, he said.
My indication from the warm-up was that
everybody was ready, raring and set to go.
When the puck was dropped, we just weren t
there. Lambeth scored on every opportunity
they had in the first period.
Exeter plays the Lucan Irish today (Wednes-
day), and Pearce sees the game as a chance to
get his team back on track.
To say that Lucan is not a good opponent
would be an underestimation by us, he said.
You can t take any team lightly in our divi-
sion at all. You take a night off and you might
as well mail in the two points.
Exeter faces another tough opponent Fri-
day at home against Thamesford, which has
lost only two games all season.
History may be in the Hawks favour, how-
ever.
Last year we played them very tough,
Pearce said. They were an opponent we did
really well against.
"It's always been a dream of Car-
ly's," said Becky, "so when she got
her phone call saying she made
the team, it was very exciting for
her as well as for her dad and I.
"We were absolutely thrilled for
her."
From here, Mercer returns to the
Jr. Hawks, and their pursuit of a
provincial title. The season has
been going well thus far, she said.
"We kind of went through a bit
of a slump, but we're on our way
out of that," she added. "Hopeful-
ly we'll just keep getting better."
SHIMS ATHLETE
OF THE WEEK
Name: Dylan Fiddler
Sports Played: volleyball,
badmintion, cross country,
soccer and basketball.
Favorite Sport: soccer.
Achievement/awards: Jr. boys
Athlete of the Year, Jr. boys
volleyball MVP, Best Rookie
award for Sr. boys volleyball, Jr.
badminton team leader award
and Jr. boys soccer Best Offense
award.
Memories: Won Huron -Perth
soccer championship. Won
WOSSAA bronze for senior
boys soccer. Went to WOSSAA
for badminton and won bronze
at WOSSAA for volleyball.
Importance of sports on
life: Sports are my life and
keep me active. I could not see
my school year being the same
without sports.
Academics: I enjoy History.
Career Path: I plan to attend
King's University College to
major in History.
Everyone is
welcome to the
SOUTH (HURON
SOCCER CLUB
Annual General Meeting
Wed., Nov. 26
at 7:00 p.m.
South Huron H.S.
Room 77
For niore information call:
Ernie Szabo at 235-6135
ernimouthhuronsoccerconi