Beaver ladies celebrate WOSSAA gold

   Lauren Gellner and Hannah Vickers score in a 2-1 victory, advancing to OFSAA 

Thursday May 31, 2018

By Rob J. Ross 

LONDON, ON - There may have been flashbacks.

Depleted and down to nine players, due to their school's prom occurring on the same day, the Dorchester Beavers fell to the Goderich Vikings, in the 2017 WOSSAA A girls' gold medal soccer game.

Fast forward a year and the Beavers were back in the WOSSAA final, but again prom was later in the day, leaving the team without some of their players.

Deja vu? Not this year. The Beavers are heading to OFSAA is June 7-9, in Paincourt.

Lauren Gellner and Hannah Vickers scored as Dorchester edged the London Christian Pioneers, 2-1, in the WOSSAA 1A girls' gold medal game, at Windemere Field.

"So exciting. I am thrilled," said Vickers, who dominated the mid-field, even helping on defence. "Our main thing was work as a team, play simple and it worked out for us. We knew what was at stake, to go to OFSAA and we are all super excited to go there.

"It was supposed to rain today but the sun came out."

Credit three graduating players, who put the team ahead of their prom plans.

Gellner, Madison O'Brien and goalie Julie Piper, arrived for the semifinals, planning to leave after the game. However, the trio remained for the final.

"Those three girls when they came this morning weren't staying at all for the second game and the fact that they stayed showed their commitment," coach Stephanie Young said. "The drive of this team to win. They really wanted to make OFSAA. That's what they focused on and that's what they did."

Gellner did leave at half-time, not to miss her appointments. Piper, who made two game saving stops in the second half, jetted from the field, following the medal ceremony.

"She (Piper) wasn't even going to be here for the first game, but she changed everything," said Young. "I was impressed."

In the semifinals, Dorchester avenged that loss in last year's final, defeating Goderich, 4-1. Vickers and Katie McDonald both scored twice.

OFSAA is June 7-9, in Paincourt.

"My first time going to OFSAA with the soccer team," said Vickers, who in grade nine and ten, competed at the OFSAA regional track and field meet, in pole vault. "It's an exciting experience and I plan to make the most of it."

The Dorchester ladies soccer team was at OFSAA in 2016.

At WOSSAA boys, Dorchester fell to Strathroy Holy Cross, 1-0, in the gold medal game, at Windemere Fields. The Beavers blanked Clinton St. Anne, 2-0, in the semifinals.

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