'Cats sniper apologetic after sparking 4-3 win

It's not often you will hear a player apologize for scoring a hat-trick and helping her team pull out a last-minute victory, but Gabby Kosziwka had an admission to make after the Acton Bearcats beat the T.A. Blakelock Tigers 4-3 on Wednesday afternoon. "That shift was a little too long," said the 15-year-old Kosziwka, a Grade 10 student. "We had them down in their end for a while and we knew we could score." Despite being shorthanded at the time, Kosziwka and fellow Bearcat forward Amanda Schroeder buzzed around the T.A. Blakelock goal, looking to break a 3-3 tie. Kosziwka just missed scoring on at least a halfdozen chances during that shift, then the Limehouse resident finally wristed in the clinching goal with just over two minutes remaining in the third period. The win improved Acton's record to 3-4 in the Halton high school girls' hockey league standings and it's likely that the Bearcats will qualify for the region's A/AA playdowns next month after exams are completed. "Today, everyone was up for the game and as long as we play like that and put in the effort, we'll be happy," said Acton coach Bruce Andrews. Jody Howard also scored for the `Cats, with Kaitlyn Andrews and Calli Andrew supplying strong defence for the home side. Kosziwka has accounted for the lion's share of Acton's goal scoring this season and she is also a standout on her Brampton midget AA club team. "My goal is to get a scholarship," said Kosziwka, who is also a provincial champion in beach volleyball. Last week, Kosziwka scored four goals and added an assist but the Bearcats were outgunned 8-5 by Iroquois Ridge. Jody Howard added a goal and two assists for Acton and Hayley Halls helped set up three of the Bearcat markers. Next up for the Bearcats is the Ice Gardens tournament at York University Feb. 6-7.