These Bombers take longer road to Field Hockey Provincials
By The Nelson Daily Sports
It wasn’t the easiest of roads, but the L.V. Rogers Bombers are heading back to the BC High School Girl’s Field hockey Championships.
Hanna Quinn scored on her own rebound to spark the Bombers to a 2-0 victory over J. Lloyd Crowe of Trail in the final of the West Kootenay Girl’s Field hockey League Tuesday at Pass Creek Park in Castlegar.
Naomi Perkins also scored while Rylee Zondervan pitched the shutout as the Bombers now represent the zone at the BC High School Girl’s Field hockey Championships the first week in November in Victoria.
“The LV Rogers Lady Bombers field hockey team may have taken the long road to repeat as Kootenay Zone Champions but it is very sweet indeed,” said Bomber skipper Bruce Walgren following the past few hectic days of post-season action.
“After coming second in league play to arch rival J. Lloyd Crowe, the Bombers had to play Stanley Humphries of Castlegar in a semi final on Monday the winner then would have to play Crowe the very next day (Tuesday) . . . which is a tall order for any team,” Walgren added.
LVR, finishing league play in second spot behind regular season champ J. Lloyd Crowe Hawks, started on the road to greatness Monday by stopping Stanley Humphries Rockers of Castlegar 3-0 in semi final action.
LVR started the game off slow allowing the Rockers to take the game to the Bombers from the start.
It appeared Stanley Humphries might be rewarded for their efforts but strong defensive play led by Kyra Burkart, Emma Gregorich, Heather Potkins and Julia Burkart combined with steady goal keeping of Rylee Zondervan, who suffered an injury during warm up, kept Castlegar from converting on numerous short corners.
After surviving the onslaught, the Bombers began to take over the game thanks to relentless checking of forwards Hanna Quinn, Emma Borhi, and Kaitlyn Daly, which the Bomber midfield of Naomi Perkins, Allie Zondervan and Noa Butterfield were quick to exploit.
The pressure paid off as Emma Borhi scored to give LVR a 1-0 lead at the half.
LVR kept up the strong play in the second half and were rewarded with goals from Allie Zondervan and Perkins to secure the three-goal victory.
Tuesday, Crowe and LVR provided spectators with one of the best competitive field hockey game ever played in the West Kootenays.
From the get-go Crowe took the play to the Bombers.
However, the bend-but-don’t-break LVR defence never broke.
The back-and-forth play by both teams made for a scoreless first half.
Walgren said some small adjustments at half and a determined speech by Emma Borhi lit a fire under the Bombers.
This allowed LVR to strike fast in the second half.
A quick shot by Quinn minutes into the half was stopped by the Crowe keeper.
However, Quinn pounced her own rebound to poke the ball across the goal line to give the Bombers a 1-0 lead.
“The goal gave the Bombers a boost which they need as Crowe pressed the LVR defence again and again looking for a way to the Bomber goal,” Walgren explained.
Crowe continued to press LVR, earning three consecutive corners.
But the Bomber defence was equal to the challenge.
After the third corner, the Bombers moved the ball systematically up the field before Perkins smashed a shot past the Crowe keeper for some late insurance and another date at the provincial tournament.
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