WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Wildcats seek fourth straight title

The Ubetcha Wildcats will look to continue their successful run this week in North York.

The Senior AA entry from the Sault have won three consecutive tournament championships this season with their last one coming last week in Scarborough. The Wildcats captured the Scarborough Sharks Tournament for the second consecutive year.

The upcoming Newtonbrook tournament will help prepare the Wildcats for what they hope will be a successful run at the Provincial Champions in Brampton from February 27-29.

"Newtonbrook, like all of these tournaments, will help us prepare for the provincial championships at the end of February," said Wildcats coach Craig Coletti. "We'll continue to work on our systems and conditioning. We're moving the puck up nicely and working well together. Having played 20 games by this point in the season certainly helps. You can see the players improving each time we step on the ice."

The top two teams from the provincial championship will represent Ontario at the Central Canadian Championships in April in Quebec.

In Scarborough, the Wildcats gained revenge against rival Sarnia defeating the Stars 1-0. In the opening game of the tournament, the Wildcats dropped a 4-2 decision to the Stars.

Michelle Koskela scored the game's only goal and her second of the tournament to secure the victory. The goal was the fourth game winner on the season for Koskela. Kim Raymond recorded the shutout in net.

"I was trying to pass it to (Ashley) Driver from behind the net," said Koskela. "It hit the defense's skate and went in.

In other tournament action, the Wildcats, who have compiled 19 wins and a loss this season, defeated Belleville 3-1 before Erica Avery scored her second natural hat trick of the season to led the Soo to a 5-1 win over Durham West.

*** WHL STANDINGS: (wins-losses-ties-points)

Palmer Paving 3-0-0-6 Source for Sports 3-1-0-6 Crawford's Canines 2-2-0-4 Country Way 2-2-0-4 Algoma Insurance 1-2-0-2 Investors Group 1-2-0-2 Lafarge 1-3-0-2 Skip's Kweok 1-2-0-2

*** WEEK 3 RECAP:

The following is a recap of week three action in the Women's Hockey League provided by the WHL's Lorie Springall:

Country Way and Source for Sports each picked up two wins in week 3 of the WHL.

Country Way's first win of the season was a 4-1 victory against Crawford's Canines. Newcomer Krysten DiTommaso had a natural hat trick in the game including the winner late in the second period.

Andrea Moraca scored her first goal of the season and added one assist for Country Way. Michelle Dillenbeck had two assists, while Brenda Frey, Christine Trivers and Nancy Pedatella had one assist each. Tanya Dowding scored Crawford's only goal, unassisted.

Country Way won their second straight on Monday night in Echo Bay defeating Investors Group 5-3. DiTommaso had two goals, Christine Trivers and Brenda Frey had one each and Pedatella netted her first career goal and added one assist in the game. Replying for Investors Group were Shelli Ubriaco and Ellen MacDougall. Cathy Toni and Trish Evans had one assist each.

Source for Sports squeaked out two nail-biting wins of their own. Sunday they won a thrilling contest against Lafarge 3-2, and Monday night they hung on to win 4-3 against Algoma Insurance.

In Sunday's win, Mona Jones snapped a 2-2 tie during a goal mouth scramble with only 36 seconds remaining. Heather Coutu and Trish Secondi assisted on the play. Jones and pick up player, Tanya Dowding, had the other Source goals.

Debbie "Bam Bam" Beauchamp opened the scoring with a tricky shot from behind Source's goal line that deflected in off goalie Laurie Terris's left leg. Suzanne Dunn put Lafarge up 2-1 on a nice play with teammate Sue Sherrard late in the second period.

The goalies took over from there with Terris turning aside every shot she faced for Source and pick up goalie, Teri Bonnell, was outstanding for Lafarge. Bonnell filled in for injured goalie Nancy Dewling.

Monday night, Source for Sports and Algoma Insurance were locked at 3-3 heading into the third period setting the stage for Leah-Anne Pine's winning goal early in the third period, her second goal of the game. Heather Coutu and Penny Souliere also scored for Source. Coutu also had one assist while Mona Jones pitched in with two assists.

Sheree Wright led the way for Algoma with a goal and an assist. Theresa Glover and Julie Hodkinson also scored while Pam Linklater picked up an assist.

Crawford's Canines bounced back from Sunday's loss to defeat Skip's Kweok 3-1. Carrie Mancuso scored twice for the Canines, while teammate Christine Robertson had the other goal. Elaine Angelic and Gillian Eccles each had one assist. Natalie Barry scored the only goal for the Kweok with Kyla Sewell getting the assist.

Lady luck wasn't with Lafarge for the second straight game as they were shut out 2-0 by Palmer Paving. Lisa Case's goal broke a scoreless tie midway through the final frame and proved to be the winner. Lori Bonnell added an insurance marker with 10 seconds remaining to keep Palmer's undefeated streak alive. Debbie Desgagne, Sandy Glibota and Doreen Shaw each had one assist.

League action continues this Sunday at McMeeken Arena at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. and again Monday night in Echo Bay from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.