Week 3 : Stingers Battle Hard But Fall Short in Clash Against Riptide

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Week 3 of the Junior Girls League delivered another tightly contested match as the winless Stingers squared off against the short-benched but resilient Riptide. With overcast skies and chilly temperatures again setting the scene, both squads showed heart and hustle despite the conditions — and in Riptide's case, despite needing a few borrowed Stingers players to round out their lineup.

The Stingers came out flying, with Ashlyn Christian making her presence felt early down the right wing, carving through defenders and showing why that side of the field may become her signature zone. But Riptide weathered the early storm and struck first. Amid a chaotic scramble in the circle, Ramneek Dhaliwahl spotted guest player Lucy Rowan-Legg perfectly placed on the left post and delivered a sharp pass for the tap-in goal that gave Riptide a 1-0 lead.

Rose St. Pierre had a standout game at centre-mid for the Stingers, orchestrating play with poise and distributing the ball intelligently to teammates. Her efforts helped spark sustained pressure from the Stingers, but Riptide keeper Mai Nguyen stood tall, turning back a trio of shots to preserve the lead.

Riptide was first to put a marker on the board, with Georgia Viciana ripping a shot from the middle right of the circle past the Stingers goalie for her first of two goals on the day. Riptide would extend the margin before halftime, with Georgia Viciana again scoring from the  middle right of the circle in a show of skill from a similar play to her first goal.
Despite generating a penalty corner before the break, the Stingers couldn’t find the finishing touch they needed. Riptide finished the half with a commanding 3-0 lead.

In the second half, Ashlyn Christian picked up where she left off. After another right-side dash and a shot turned away by Nguyen, she finally broke through with a determined finish from a sharp angle to get the Stingers on the board.

Fenna van der Molen, playing defense instead of her usual role on attack, delivered a composed and solid performance, helping the Stingers fend off several Riptide surges. Alyssa Wind was strong in goal again, with a particularly impressive toe save on a heavy penalty corner strike from Ramneek Dhaliwahl that kept the game within reach. Meanwhile, Annabel Baker was a constant thorn in the Stingers side, repeatedly disrupting their attacking rhythm and breaking up key plays before they could materialize.

But despite their best efforts and a noticeable uptick in offensive pressure, the Stingers couldn’t find the equalizer. Riptide defensive core — bolstered by timely clears from Ramneek, relentless work from Baker, and more steady goaltending from Nguyen — held firm to secure the win.

The Stingers will continue their search for their first points of the season, but showed promising signs with strong individual performances and growing chemistry. For Riptide, it was another gritty win in less-than-ideal conditions, reinforcing their reputation as a team that simply finds a way.