2010 Gunn Baldursson Tournament Report

Falcons earn silver medals!

 

Game 1 Friday NNU Falcons 3 vs Halifax County Lightning 1

 Krishma Joshi received player of the game honors for a dominating performance in the central midfield during the opening game as Northern Nova started the tournament on their front foot with a 3-1 win at the Dykes Complex on the campus of Acadia University.

Bernadette Little opened the scoring twenty minutes in stealing the ball from a Lightning defender and chipping a shot over the startled Halifax County keeper.  Six minutes later Jessica Taylor doubled the lead with what would prove to be the game winning goal assisted by Kelsey Chislett and Little.  HCU pulled one back just before half time to make the score 2-1 in favor of the Falcons at the interval.

 The second half proved to be all Northern Nova as they dominated possession and lengthened their lead on a bullet shot by Catherine Munro, Isobel DeMont and Joshi were the set team for this goal.  Christina Cleroux recorded the victory in goal while Erin Gillis at fullback and Veronica Deno at stopper kept the Lightning attackers at bay with solid defensive efforts.

 Game 2 Saturday morning NNU Falcons 2 vs Dartmouth United 0

This game played in Greenwich, at Horton High school field, an intense battle between two opponents that are no strangers to one another over the past four years.  The same result as the Falcons posted a 2-0 victory in the sweltering heat.  Christina Cleroux recorded the shutout while Bernadette Little and Katie Walsh provided the goals, the latter off a Tiffany Prosser corner kick from the right side that found Walsh alone at the far post.  Little and Krishma Joshi also picked up assists on this goal.

 

Defenders Isobel DeMont and Jenna Fraser were full credit for their performances in this game while Kelsey Crawford contributed several dangerous corner kicks and throw-ins.

 Game 3 Saturday afternoon NNU Falcons 1 vs Cole Harbour Storm 0

 

 NNU clinched first place in their group and a berth in the semi finals with a shutout victory over Cole Harbour Storm.  Played at Centerville this 1-0 win gave the Falcons back to back shutouts against tough opponents.  Birthday girl Vicki Oliver had the game winner on a long drive from 25 yards out on the left wing. Jessica Taylor was the set up person recording the assist. 

 Cleroux recorded the clean sheet while Kelsey Greenidge, and McKayla Day in midfield along with right fullback Tiffany Prosser all played key roles in this important victory.

 Game 4 Semi finals Sunday morning NNU Falcons 3 vs Cole Harbour Storm 0

 

The sequel took place the next morning as Cole Harbour qualified with the best record of the three divisional runners up.   The Falcons, measured their opponent for the first half and then exploded for three tallies in the second stanza.  Isobel DeMont scored on a solo effort for the game winner with a shot off the crossbar that careened down and into the mesh.  Next up Jessica Taylor scored the first of her two goals one timing a Veronica Deno corner kick, then Taylor was back for more chipping the storm keeper with assists to Bernadette Little, Kelsey Crawford  and Kelsey Chislett.

 Christina Cleroux earned her third shutout of the tournament going the distance in this game played at Oakdene fields in Kentville.   In this match, Katie Walsh,  McKayla Day, Erin Gillis and Kelsey Greenidge had outstanding games for the Northern Nova squad.  Right back Tiffany Prosser shutdown the top Cole Harbour striker for the second consecutive game, the striker had been on a goal a game pace for the entire season until she came up against the Falcons Prosser.

 Championship Final Sunday afternoon NNU Falcons 2 vs Scotia Olympics 3 OT

 

In the championship game, played at the Oakdene fields in Kentville, featuring two very familiar combatants from past provincials and tournaments over the last five years saw the Falcons narrowly edged out in overtime by the Scotia club in monsoon like conditions.  The championship winning goal was scored in the final minute as of the first overtime as Scotia capitalized on a corner kick opportunity. 

 Catherine Munro opened the scoring with the lone goal of the first half on a beautiful shot to the low far post.  Munro was sent in alone on a great feed from midfielders Krishma Joshi and Kelsey Crawford who were playing possession back and forth.

Scotia equalized just a minute into the second half but three minutes later Vicki Oliver delivered a low shot to restore the lead, scoring short side past a diving keeper.  Krishma Joshi again provided the set up pass.

 Ten minutes from the end Scotia were awarded a dubious handball call for a penalty shot and they converted just out of the reach of a diving Christina Cleroux to make the score 2-2.  The rest of the game saw opportunities at both ends with the keepers standing tall and the strikers working hard for opportunities.  Cleroux had seven definite saves in this game, the best of which when she extended and pushed a labeled shot wide of the post and out of bounds.

 Central defenders Deno, DeMont and sweeper Walsh all stood tall for the NNU crew and battled hard for the cause.

 The short overtime allowed no chance for a Falcons comeback on this day but the young team served notice that they will be a force to be reckoned with throughout this season.

 The exhausted team of 16 players rose to the occasion this week-end fashioning a record of 4 wins and 1 overtime loss scoring 11 goals and conceding only 4 in the sweltering heat and driving rains.  The total team effort was celebrated by donning their silver medals and posing for team photographs.

 

Well played ladies!

 

 

 

 

NNU Falcons U-16 Girls 2010 Gunn Baldursson Silver Medalists

 

Names for Team members in photo:

 

Front :  Christina Cleroux.

 

First Row (L to R):  Katie Walsh, Jessica Taylor, Kelsey Chislett, Jenna Fraser, Kelsey Greenidge, Erin Gillis, Bernadette Little.

 

Back Row (L to R):  Bob Boardway, Coach; Catherine Munro, Isobel DeMont, Veronica Deno, Vicki Oliver, Tiffany Prosser, McKayla Day, Kelsey Crawford, Krishma Joshi, Kathryn Verheyden, Assistant Coach; Bonnie Cleroux, Manager.

 

Missing:  Heather Beaton, Alex Henderson, Gillian McKenzie, Nicole Sloan and Assistant Coach Kelly Chisholm