Wildcats could invade field hockey semifinals

ST. THOMAS - There could be a wildcat in this year's field hockey playoffs.

Three teams are the class of the field hockey season, Strathroy District (7-0-1), London Saunders (7-2-0) and the reigning OFSAA champion Medway Cowboys (7-0-0).

A fourth team hopes to make a big jump, qualifying for the Thames Valley Regional Athletics (TVRA) semifinals.

Currently, the West Elgin Wildcats (4-3-1) sit in fourth place, with one game remaining in the regular season. A win over Holy Cross (1-5-1) would allow hope and put pressure on a perennial contender also wanting that fourth spot.

Surprisingly, the Parkside Stampeders are down in fifth with 3-2-2 record and chasing the Wildcats. The Stampeders may need wins over both the Central Elgin Titans (2-5-0) and Ingersoll (4-4-0), to leap frog West Elgin, in to fourth and the semifinals.

West Elgin and Parkside battled to a scoreless draw October 13.

The East Elgin Eagles will finish eighth (1-7-1).

Medway and Strathroy clash on the final day to decide first place. Saunders has third place nailed down.

TVRA semifinals and final, are Thursday, October 22, at City Wide Fields in London.

The winner moves on to WOSSAA, also at City Wide, October 28.

Football

On the junior grid iron, the St. Joe's Rams are 3-1, second in the Circelli division, the top division for TVRA, behind, surprise, surprise, the 4-0 CCH Crusaders.

After falling to CCH, 42-6, on opening day, the Rams dropped Banting, 31-14, blanked Medway, 27-0 and slapped Saunders, 41-6.

Parkside started off 2-0 in the Darnell division, but suffered back to back losses. The East Elgin Eagles are 1-3 in the Walzak division.

At the senior level, the Eagles are 2-2, Stampders, 1-3 and Rams, 0-4.

Hoops

St. Joe's (4-0) remains undefeated in senior girls hoops, along the Woodstock CI (5-0) and the two undefeated teams do not meet until last final day of the regular season, in Woodstock, October 28.

At the junior level, the same two schools have the same records as their senior counterparts. The Parkside Stampeders are third with a 4-1 record.

In senior volleyball, three teams remain undefeated including the Central Elgin Titans, after dusting St. Joe's, three games to none October 15, improving their match record to 4-0.

Ingersoll (5-0) leads the TVRA SouthEast, with Woodstock St. Mary's, also at 4-0.

Volley

The Titans and St. Mary's are also unbeaten at the junior ranks with 3-0 records. WCI is 4-0 and Tillsonburg Glendale, 4-1.

Over in the Central Division Tier 2A, the West Elgin Wildcats share top spot with the Montcalm Cougars, both with 5-0 records. The 'Cats visit Montcalm, October 21.

The junior 'Cats are 1-3.