Team SEMIC came home with second place after a May long weekend tournament in Kelowna.
SEMIC, sponsored by Suncoast Electrical Management, was made up from four teams from the Sunshine Coast Women's League.
Game one was an easy 4-0 win over Semiamoo from White Rock with Sara Schutz, Cubby Elson, Tara Flay and Ginny Blattler scoring the goals.
Game two saw SEMIC draw 0-0 against Calgary in regulation time, so the teams went into the shootout.
Young Maya Schutz played in goal for SEMIC and won this one for them. Maya saved a difficult ground shot and then pulled off the save of the tournament with a leaping dive to palm a cracker of a shot past the post. SEMIC won the shootout 3-1.
The third and final round robin game was against North Van Celtics. SEMIC jumped on them early as Schutz hit for two with one from a free kick. Kara McDonnell, Laura Dixon and Elson, from the penalty spot, took care of the rest of the scoring in the 5-1 win.
SEMIC advanced to the semifinal and won 2-0 on goals by Schutz and Carla Paetkau.
This set up the championship final against North Vancouver's Puss 'n Boots.
SEMIC dominated play in the first half, but failed to score. As is this case when this happens, one break the other way and it found the back of SEMIC's net for a 1-0 North Van lead at the break.
In the second half, SEMIC kept up the pressure with McDonnell hitting the crossbar, but no more goals could be had and SEMIC had to settle for second place.
SEMIC allowed only two goals in five games and a big part of that was the goaltending from Maya. At 15-years-old she has really matured in her play. She gave her defence confidence and when required came up with key saves and clearances. Her distribution of the ball was excellent far above what you would expect from a goalkeeper of her age. Remember this name. If Maya keeps on improving the way she has, we may see her on a Team Canada list or on a major university squad in the not so distant future.
