Field Hockey Owls Flying High After UBC Tournament

The Kelowna Owls’ field hockey team is savouring an unbeaten record at a tournament in Vancouver on the weekend.

And while head coach Arnar Bernhardsson is pleased his young AAA contingent gained some valuable confidence in winning four games and tying two others at the University of B.C. event, he knows a much stiffer challenge awaits the Owls in Victoria this weekend.

“We got in six quality games and everyone was able to play a fair amount of minutes,” noted Bernhardsson, whose team includes 10 Grade 10 players. “The girls keep developing nicely and the work ethic is tremendous, but we have to remember that the UBC tournament was made up mostly of single-A and double-A schools.”

In Victoria, at the prestigious Bridgman Cup tournament, most of the top triple-A and AA high school teams in the province will be competing.

“We’ll get a better idea of where we’re really at after this weekend,” Bernhardsson conceded.

The Owls opened the tournament with three straight wins, defeating Little Flower Academy of Vancouver 2-1 on goals by Dezeree Day and Letisha Mapstone; J.L. Crowe of Trail 4-1 (two goals by Mapstone and one each by Day and Grace DeMug); and Crofton House Bs 1-0 (Mapstone goal).

KSS played the Rockridge Ravens of West Vancouver to a scoreless tie and deadlocked 1-1 with the York House Tigers of Vancouver. Lauren Guy was the lone marksman for the Owls against York and also notched the winning goal as KSS defeated Little Flower 1-0 in a rematch.

Destiny Lemp was selected as the Owls player-of-the-tournament for her domination of the midfield and leadership throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Owls resumed Okanagan Valley senior AAA regular-season play on Tuesday, defeating the Mt. Boucherie Bears 5-0 on the Mission Stadium artificial turf.

Day scored three times to lead the KSS offence, while Zoe Brown and DeMug also contributed goals.

Ashley Kowal and Yvette Muttera shared the shutout in goal for the winners, who are 2-0 in league play.