Versus Blackburn 17 April

Last game of the season... Vipers travelled on a beautifully sunny April day, while sheep were grazing on the rolling Lancashire hills, and the smell of manure was faintly hanging in the air! We found ourselves in the wide ice of Blackburn arena. With only 12 players for our final game, but a bench full of coaches we played 2 straight lines with one roaming forward.

In the previous encounter, Vipers had been dominant and Coach JS was seeking a crushing victory to round off the season. Blackburn started well, and had a few early chances, which tested our Maya in goal. However, Maya was equal to the task and soon Vipers found their stride and dominated the play. The goals...just didn't come. For ten minutes the Blackburn keeper kept her team in the game pulling of some good saves. Eventually, the pressure told as Vipers, through Julia, found the net. Suddenly, the belief and momentum had shifted Vipers way, and they continued in a similar fashion for the rest of the game.

The game wasn't all about the goal scorers. This was clearly a team performance, with all players (including our goalie - Maya's first assist for the Vipers) getting points from the game. The work ethic was superb from the first drop of the puck to the final buzzer. Assists came galore, due to some good passing and creative plays. A great performance from Kerry Lowe in defense awarded her the man-of-the match trophy.

The final score, 16-0, and Maya's fifth shut out of the season. The result confirmed Vipers' second place finish in the league. In the post-match press conference, held in Burger King, the journalists were so eager to get a question to Coach JS that one fell off his chair in the commotion. Coach JS was keen to thank all members of his coaching staff and management, but was clearly very impressed with all his players, for all their hard work during the season, and trying to live up to his expectations and high demands. Word of warning for his players though...'Next season, I'll be expecting more!'