Photo Credits: Aled Hopkins Photography
With every game a must win now for the Veygo Cardiff Comets to stay top of the league the pressure was on as they headed to Oxford to take on the Midnight Stars.
The Comets put the pressure on from the beginning of the game with the first goal coming after the first minute from Liz Shackley (her first goal of an eventual hat trick) assisted by Kim Bosher. The next goal from Maddie Davies assisted by Liv Taylor was on a few minutes later. A bench penalty against Cardiff gave Oxford a PP opportunity but were denied by the Comets. The 1st period came to an end with no more scoring as a zinger pinged off the post for top scorer Liv Taylor.
The 2nd period saw some lovely goals across the Comets top two lines as Liz Shackley scored the 2nd of her hat trick in the third minute of the period. Barely 2 minutes later Maddie Davies had also bagged her 2nd of the game assisted by Captain Jordan Phipps who has been amassing assists and goals the last few games (as well as a few penalty minutes). Cardiff's line three also showed their development as they take on more minutes and the penalty play with some excellent skating from Chloe Smith and a few close chances. Amy Cannon tipped in another goal in minute 24 (her hot streak continues!) assisted by Maddie Davies after a lovely passing play and the last goal of the period was unassisted as Liv Taylor scored.
The third period started with Liz Shackley's 3rd goal unassisted and the Stars couldn't contain the Comets. The last ten minutes were a flurry with a goal from Kim Bosher and Jordan Phipps assisted by Liv Taylor. The Stars pulled out a mighty effort in the last ten minutes with one of the team sliding into their own net on a backcheck. A pretty clean penalty sheet from both teams and an excellent effort from the Stars on their last home game of the season.
Player of the Game went to Maddie Davies and Spirit of the Game went to Sally Williams. Some truly awesome defence players for the Comets.
Coach Dave's 3 stars of the game went to: 1st Star Chloe Smith for her impressive positioning and battling for the puck, 2nd Star Kim Bosher for battling relentlessly for the puck and a goal and 3rd Star to Liz Shackley for her hat trick and persistent pressure - a force to be reckoned with!
Bonus 4 stars went to Sally Williams for her bombastic joie de vivre.
The Comets take on Peterborough on home ice next weekend in the Vindico Arena on the 4th of May. As a very wise, small green being once said - "The fear of loss is a path to the dark side," in that case let's hope for a Comets win!