LVR Bombers roar back to grab Field Hockey Consolation Crown
By The Nelson Daily Sports
The L.V. Rogers rallied to win three straight en route to the consolation crown at the BC High School Field Hockey Championships Friday in Vancouver.
LVR bounced Southridge of Surrey 8-0 in the Consolation Final to claim ninth spot in the 16-team tournament.
“I was really proud of the way the girls never gave up and continued to play hard even after such a difficult start, ending up in the group of death,” said Bomber coach Bruce Walgren.
“They played with such determination, speed and endurance that at times I was amazed how they could keep playing at such a high tempo with pulled hamstrings, a black eye, slashed fingers and banged up knees, playing six games in three days, always finding away to get the job done.”
LVR entered the tournament seeded in the toughest division of the tournament — against number two ranked St. Michaels’ University from Victoria, provincial field hockey power Yorkhouse Secondary from Vancouver and Seycove Secondary from North Vancouver.
Walgren used the FIFA World Cup adage, “Group of Death” in referring to the round robin pool.
Despite playing against the odds, the Bomber narrowly lost to Yorkhouse 1-0 to open the tournament Wednesday.
“The game was very fast and intense with Yorkhouse scoring the only goal from a short corner in the first five minutes of the game,” Walgren explained.
The Bombers were unfortunate not to score after midfielder Naomi Perkins failed to convert on a couple of partial breakaways during the game.
LVR then dropped a 5-0 loss to two-seeded St. Michael’s University of Victoria.
Walgren said LVR did well but a much more experienced St. Michael’s team controlled much of the play, except for the few occasions LVR was able to work the ball into the SMUS end.
Thursday, LVR then completed the round robin with a 5-0 loss to Seycove Secondary of North Vancouver.
Demoralized after the 0-3 start, LVR bounced back in the consolation pool, out scoring the opposition 18-2.
A rejuvenated Perkins scored three times as the Bombers thumped GW Graham of Chilliwack 5-1.
Allie Zondervan also scored for LVR.
LVR kept up the pace Friday, as Perkins, with a pair, Zondervan, Noa Butterfield and rookie Lakpa Dietz scored to give LVR a 5-1 victory over South Okanagan of Oliver.
Later in the day, LVR concluded the consolation sweep by hammering Southridge in the Consolation Final.
LVR scored early and often, building a 5-0 lead en route to the easy win.
Perkins, Butterfield, Emma Borhi, Hanna Quin, Emma Gregorich, Kyra Burkart, rookie exchange student Kassandra Schloeder scored for the Bombers.
Bomber Goalie Rylee Zondervan registered the shutout.
For a handful of Bombers, this tournament was the swan song for their high school careers.
Seniors Allie Zondervan, Naomi Perkins, Emma Borhi, Emma Gregorchi, Kyra Burkart, Noelle Wang, Camille Gebhart, Mia Kraus and Lakpa Dietz all played their final games.
