Just a year after being knocked from the podium, the Kelowna Owls are back on top in Okanagan Valley high school girls field hockey.
KSS, unbeaten in league play this season, secured their ninth valley title in 10 seasons Saturday on the CNC turf with a 2-0 victory over defending champion South Kamloops in the final.
Kristina Lucas, on a short corner, and Karen De Lange on a penalty stroke scored for the Owls who fought through South Kam’s physical, defensive tactics to earn the win.
“Basically, they were hoping for a 0-0 tie and were hoping to beat us in a shootout,” said Owls coach Arnar Bernhardsson. “They did whatever they could to disrupt us, simply through fouling and it did frustrate us to a certain point, but the girls did a good job of battling through it.”
Bernhardsson considers this his best Owls team since KSS won B.C. gold in 2009 and a bronze in 2010.
The 2014 provincial championship will be contested Nov. 12 to 14 in West Vancouver.
According to Bernhardsson, the Owls medal chances could hinge on the health of two key players—Destiny Lemp is currently out with a back injury, while Jessie Itterman is sidelined with a broken nose and concussion after being injured in Saturday’s final.
“There will be no easy games at provincials,” said Bernhardsson, who is hopeful one or both players will be ready for the B.C. championship.
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