The Tri-Port Wild women's Midget team had a tough challenge Nov. 28 at the Chilton Regional Arena in Port McNeill, as they took on The Port McNeill Warriors Bantam league team in an exhibition game.
The game started off with both teams having good chances at each end of the ice, but it was the Warriors William Johnson who ended up scoring first with a nice goal at 9:21 of the 1st period.
Down 1-0, the Wild's goalie Avary Miller made some excellent clutch saves to help keep her team in the game.
Near the end of the 1st period, the Wild's Bree-Anna Henderson banged in a goal from the side of the net to tie it up 1-1 with a little over a minute left.
The Warriors got off to quick start in the 2nd period, as Johnson scored his second goal of the game, roofing it top shelf over a sprawled out Miller just 18:36 into the period.
The Warriors would continue to add to their lead, with a goal from the side of the net by Skyler Driscall, and then another goal from Johnson, who absolutely blasted the puck from the point, top shelf glove side, past Miller.
The Wild, now down 4-1, turned up the intensity and started to fight back. Henderson scored her second goal of the game on a breakaway, beating the Warrior's goalie Drayson Marshal with a great shot through the five hole.
The Warriors Jesse Lloyd answered with a goal of his own to make it 5-2, only for Henderson to complete the hat trick by deeking out Marshal on a breakaway.
With the score 5-3 for the Warriors, the Wild's Mandy Foldy banged in a wraparound goal to bring the Wild within one goal of tying the game.
Lloyd added his second goal of the game to end the 2nd period 6-4 for the Warriors.
16:42 into the 3rd period, Johnson scored his fourth goal of the game, followed by a goal from Darian Johnson to make the score 8-4 for the Warriors.
Jessica Wadhams added one last goal for the Wild off a rebound, but it was too little too late.
The Tri-Port Wild hung tough and played a great game, but in the end fell to the Port McNeill Warriors 9-5.