They didn’t finish with medals this year, but they did finish with a fine tournament in their hometown.
A dozen junior women graduate from minor lacrosse after a fourth-place finish at B.C. Lacrosse Association provincials in Nanaimo this past weekend.
The T-women lost Sunday’s bronze-medal game at Frank Crane Arena to the New Westminster Salmonbellies’ No. 1 team by a 7-1 score.
Nanaimo went 1-1-1 in pool play including a win Saturday against the eventual champions, New West No. 2. A 7-3 setback against Coquitlam No. 1 in the semifinals kept the home team out of the gold-medal game.
The players left everything out on the floor, particularly team captain Toni Angell. She scored half her team’s goals at provincials, finishing with 10 goals, four assists and the tournament MVP award.
Victoria Kultgen won the skills competition and Carllie Ashlie won the Fair Play award.
It was the last hurrah for those three players, plus their Island Stone Supply Timbermen teammates Nicole Martinetti, Amanda Kowatski, Chantelle Battie, Georgia Smith, Kalista Lundgren, Cassie Livesey, Sabrina Price, Bailey Theedom and Amrita Dhoot.
The junior women, who captured provincial gold in 2010, are the sport’s greatest ambassadors in Nanaimo, said Farren Ferguson, female lacrosse coordinator. Darren Angell, the team’s coach, said the graduating players hope a women’s league will be formed so they can continue to play.
Another highlight of the provincial championships in Nanaimo was the participation of the city’s midget girls.
Before the season started, only six girls had registered. Coaches Marissa Jordan and Kelsey Theedom recruited a full 18-player team, saving the midget division, which would have otherwise been scuttled without an Island entry.
All-stars at the tournament included Toni Angell, Jenna Rafter, Taylor Olsen and Sarah Ferguson. Fair Play awards went to Ashlie, Madison Chamberlain, Shaelynn Ross and Ainsley Allan.
Darren Angell and Ferguson were chosen as Fair Play coaches at the tournament.
sports@nanaimobulletin.com