After 3 days of games in Ayton, the twelve team field was reduced to a final between Blyth and Normanby. The game would prove to be a thrilling come from behind, double overtime win by Blyth.
Blyth would open the scoring late in the first on a goal by Ashley Higgins. Normanby tied it up a minute later. Normanby went ahead with a goal with three minutes to go in the second period. Blyth would give up another goal with less than a second on the clock in the second to enter the third period down by a 3-1 score. Normanby would add another goal at the 12 minute mark of the third period to take a commanding 4-1 lead.
The Blyth girls would not quit and Higgins was again able to spark the team and scored with 7 minutes to play. Mackenzie Nesbitt rushed up the ice and brought the team to within 1 with 4 minutes to play. The team was really fired up at this point and 55 seconds later Higgins set up Amy Boyce for the tying goal. The final 3 minutes of the third brought several close calls, including a shot that Blyth goalie Lindsay Shiell deflected and landed on top of the net and hitting the crossbar.
The first overtime period was played 4 on 4. Blyth was given a penalty early in the period and successfully killed that off. Higgins would have several chances to score including 2 breakaways, but was thwarted by the Normanby goalie.
A second overtime was required and this time it was played with 3 skaters aside. Both teams played with 1 defense playing very deep, not wanting to surrender the winning goal. Then late in the period Higgins broke free and rushed end to end and fired a powerful shot for the winner with 2 minutes to go. The assist on the final goal went to goalie Lindsay Shiell for her first point of the year. Higgins finished the tournament with an amazing 13 goals in the 4 games - all victories for Blyth, including 3 by 1 goal margins.
The final game MVP awarded by the game officials was goalie Lindsay Shiell. Way to go !
The fans and coaching staff were treated to an amazing performance by this group of girls that finally beat Normanby after losing twice to them in the regular season. It was a great way to end the season. Congratulations girls.