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Queens of the Fraser Valley again

South Delta senior girls field hockey team heads to B.C. "AAA" Championships with momentum after capturing another Fraser Valley banner
field hockey
South Delta Sun Devils were crowned Fraser Valley senior girls field hockey champions after a 1-0 win over Port Moody's Heritage Woods on Thursday. Provincials are next in Richmond.
The South Delta Sun Devils will take momentum to the upcoming B.C. “AAA” Field Hockey Championships in Richmond.
The Devils continued their dominance at the Fraser Valley Championships, blanking Heritage Woods 1-0 in last Thursday’s title game played at Tamanawis Park in Surrey. Remarkably it was Neil McLennan’s 17th Valley title since taking on the program 22 years ago. He is believed to be the longest serving outside volunteer coach in the Delta school district.
South Delta headed into the eight-team event as one of the favourites but reaching the top of the podium was hardly a certainty for a team that has struggled to score at times this season.
The Devils opened with a 2-0 win over Centennial, then got off to a sluggish start in their semi-final title with Charles Best and were lucky the game remained scoreless at the intermission. The girls found their stride in the second half for a 1-0 triumph and the momentum continued into the final with one of their most complete games of the season.
“We were just flat against Charles Best and were actually fortunate the game was still 0-0. Then it was like a switch was turned on in the second half,” said McLennan, who has former SDSS standout Krista Jensen working with him this season.
“In the final, I think Heritage Woods got into our penalty area maybe once or twice the entire game. The girls played very well. We have always been solid defensively. It’s just been a challenge to score goals even though we create a lot of chances. We always seem to score just enough to get the job done.”

It was a scoreless drought at the recent Bridgman Cup that put even further emphasis on a first place finish in the Valley playoffs. South Delta saw a steady diet of top teams and the Victoria tournament is typically a measuring stick for provincial seeding.
The Devils at least have to be seeded ahead of the four other Valley teams that are also headed to Richmond.
The challenge now for McLennan is keeping his team sharp for nearly three weeks with the provincials not starting until Nov. 15. The Devils will play home exhibition matches after school this week against York House on Wednesday and Kelowna on Friday.
“A number of our alumni are playing on women’s teams right now and I hope to get them together for a game or two,” he added.
The Devils roster features: Grade 12s: Bailey Mitchell, Kate Knoedler, Abigail Smart, Katie McCarvill, Brianna Lyseng, Aimee Calder. Grade 11s: Elise Ridley, Mady Arjomandi, Eve Carrothers, Aliyah Smith, Annika Vaughan, Grade 10: Megan Childs Kayle Guraliuk. Grade 9: Tessa Everett, Ciana Dawydiuk, Natalie Anderson.