NEWS RELEASE
ORILLIA LADY KINGS SENIOR
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The BMO Nesbitt Burns Orillia Lady Kings senior lacrosse team is participating in the Ontario Women’s Field Lacrosse league after a five-year absence.
The team got off to a great start as they played a pair of games in opening weekend action in Oshawa. (Senior women's lacrosse is for players aged 19 and over; there are 12 teams in the provincial league)
In Game 1, the Lady Kings faced off against 2017 silver medal winners Toronto Beaches and behind the stellar goaltending performance of Mikayla Kunkel stunned Toronto, winning by a 12-7 margin. They surprised the Beaches with their youthful enthusiasm and veteran leadership from a few of the older players that have decided to lace them up again. Camille Vibert opened the scoring for Orillia after that lengthy layoff and Orillia would never look back. The game was deadlocked 5-5, but Orillia controlled the tempo and exercised ball control throughout the second half. Leading the offence was Kiah Shanks as she recorded four goals and two assists. Vibert also tallied four goals and added one assist. Sarah Utting also recorded a multiple point game, tallying a goal and adding three assists. Also scoring key goals in the game were Teresa Mayo, Emily Arkell and Rachel Mochulla.
Game two would see the Lady Kings dominate the Oakville Lady Hawks, earning a convincing 14-1 win. Kunkel again made key saves when tested but the overall team defence shone as Shannon O’Connor and Kennady Blunt spearheaded the efforts on the defensive side of the field. Shanks and Vibert would again lead the offensive attack, each recording three goals each while Mayo chipped in with her own two-goal, two-assist effort. Sarah Utting also tallied a pair while two-goal efforts also came from Kaitlyn Beech and Emily Arkell. Hayley Rekker had two assists as well.
Next week’s action promises to be a test as the Lady Kings will face Orangeville Northmen, defending gold medal champions who are looking to repeat according to the rankings. The Lady Kings will then face off against the Owen Sound NorthStars later in the day. Games will be played in Kitchener-Waterloo and RIM Park.
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