The Toronto Golden Jets women’s Gold team eked out two one-goal victories on Day 2 of NCL tournament action at the Markham Pan Am pool.
In the first game, the Jets faced their close rivals Montreal Touski, a team that has consistently produced close games with the Jets. This game was no exception.
Touski scored the only goal of the opening quarter as both teams appeared sluggish on offence. The Jets then erupted for five goals in the second period while holding the visitors to another single goal to take a 5-2 lead into the second half.
Touski outduelled the Jets 2-1 in the third to move to within two goals heading into the final frame.
Montreal put up a three spot to one goal by the Jets to tie things up at 7-7. However, in an incredible finish to the game, Jets goalie Grace Bobyk swam the ball out to half way and fired a buzzer-beater into the top right corner to give the Jets an 8-7 victory.
Josie Andrist paced the Jets attack with a pair of goals. Six players each scored once: Ava Stimson, Leanne Bolstad, Devon Lynch, Julia Mic, Tyanna Supreme and Bobyk.
Bobyk also had a strong game in net including five steals.
Despite the win, the Jets finished third in group play behind Touski and Saskatchewan. The result meant that the Jets’ quarterfinal opponent would be the Ottawa Titans Black squad which finished 2nd in Group A.
The teams produced strings of goals but neither could pull away. The first quarter ended in a 3-3 draw. Toronto won the second quarter 2-1 to lead 5-4 at the half. Ottawa responded with a 2-1 quarter win of its own in the third to tie things up 6-6 entering the fourth period.
After losing the swim off and killing off a power play, Bobyk took the ball in the goal crease and, seeing national team goalie Jessica Gaudreault sliding forward out of the net, fired a pool-length strike to give the Jets a 7-6 lead less than a minute in. Toronto then took a two goal lead only to have the visitors pull back within one with two minutes to go. The Jets defence then held off three Titans attacks to steal another 8-7 win.
Andrist and Bolstad both netted a pair of goals while Sydney Low, Mic, Supreme and Bobyk added singles.
For Bobyk, it was back-to-back game winning goals. There aren’t many goalies (if any) that can claim that feat.
The win vaulted the Jets Gold team into the semi-finals and another date against Touski. The game will go at 9:10am on Sunday.