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26 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday February 28, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Experience pays off for STA in final OFSAA-bound Continued from page 25 third set and never relinquished it. "Experience carries you a long way," said Aquinas coach Peter Szpakowski, "and the maturity (level) not to get down. Last year, we (fell behind in the third set) and had to fight back, but this time we were the lucky ones to get up early." As Halton AA champs, the Raiders hosted a Golden Horseshoe Athletic Conference challenge match yesterday afternoon versus Hamilton's Bishop Tonnis, with the winner advancing to the upcoming provincial AA tournament (a game that ended after the Beaver's deadline). Aquinas dominated Friday's opening set, using what Szpakowski referred to as "junk "Some teams balls" -- dumps and tips --to rout will point fingers, the Patriots 25-8. Pearson adjusted in the second game, however, to but they went defeat the Raiders 25-15 and set up straight to the the winner-take-all third set. bench, got their Vicky Miliucci gave Aquinas the water bottles and strong start it needed, opening the listened." game with a pair of aces, and a couple powerful kills by Aysia Saint Aquinas coach helped the Raiders build an early 7Peter Szpakowski 3 advantage. Pearson narrowed the gap to a one-point deficit on two occasions but also hurt itself with a number of unforced errors, including serving long on the deciding point. Szpakowski was impressed by the play of libero Nicole Mierszwa ("she was killing herself to get to balls," he said) and setter Jess Crespi, both Grade 12 students -- along with Saint -- that were determined to win a Halton title in their final year at Aquinas. "We bent, but we didn't break," the coach added. "Our kids walked off the court after the second game and they didn't say a word. Some teams will point fingers, but they went straight to the bench, got their water bottles and listened." As if a berth in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations tournament wasn't enough, the Raiders had a bit of extra motivation to handle Bishop Tonnis yesterday. Bishop Tonnis, which grew to approximately 1,200 students this year (compared to Aquinas' enrollment of 850), denied the Raiders' senior girls' basketball team of a trip to OFSAA last fall. -- Jon Kuiperij BARRIE ERSKINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER WRESTLING EAGLES: After only two years of existence, the Abbey Park High School wrestling program will send six Eagles to this weekend's provincial championship tournament in Brampton. Michael De Fabrizio, Jessica Lim, Courtney Meilleur, Jessica Tat and Keiran Freeman (pictured left to right) will compete in the OFSAA tournament, as will Sam McVean (not present for photo). Abbey Park's wrestling team, which attracted 13 members this year, is coached by parent volunteer John De Fabrizio, with Amy Parsons serving as staff supervisor. Tigers returning to hockey title game By Jon Kuiperij BEAVER SPORTS EDITOR EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT IN FLORIDA. WestJet Vacations is now booking vacations to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining includes round-trip airfare, Disney Resort accommodations, Magic Your Way Base Ticket and all the features of the Disney Dining Plan. This package offers you the easy and affordable way to experience a wide variety of select restaurants, and you can save up to 40% per person on dining. And as a Guest at a select Walt Disney World Resort hotel, benefits like Disney's Magical Express and Extra Magic Hours are available to you. Book now at westjetvacations.com. Call us at 1 877 737 7001 or talk to your travel agent. For the second straight year, the T.A. Blakelock Tigers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish will cross paths in the Halton high school boys' hockey championship game. Blakelock earned a return trip to the finals with a two-game semifinal sweep of the Nelson Lords, clinched with yesterday's 4-2 come-from-behind victory at Oakville Arena. Notre Dame had already reserved its spot in the final with a 9-2 rout of the Iroquois Ridge Trailblazers last week. The Irish downed Blakelock 5-3 in the 2006 final. "This is my third year playing (hockey at Blakelock) and I don't think we've beaten them once. We've tied them a few times, but I'd really like to win this one before I graduate," said the Tigers' Jesse Martin, who scored the game-winning goal late in the second period and added a shorthanded insurance marker with 1:20 to go in regulation. "I'd love to beat Notre jumped on a loose puck off the faceoff, Dame. They're the one team out of any came down the right wing and rifled a team I could pick that I'd like to beat." hard shot under the crossbar. Having won the opening game of the Blakelock was much better in the series versus Nelson, 4-3, Blakelock third period, allowing hardly any quality came out slowly in the first scoring opportunities and period yesterday and the "I'd love to beat generating three breakaways Notre Dame. Lords took full advantage. of its own. Martin converted Brent Atkinson and They're the one the third one on a nifty deke. Garritt Parker staked the team out of any "We didn't really have a Lords to a 2-0 lead before good start but we relaxed team I could the game was five minutes and took it at the end," said old, but the Tigers crawled pick that I'd like Martin. "(During the second back within one on Mitch to beat." intermission) we talked Fillman's goal late in the about keeping our cool and Jesse Martin first period. playing defence before anyBlakelock goaltender thing." Matt Noonan shook off the early-game Nelson contributed to its own demise struggles to keep his team in the contest in the final period, taking several needin the second period, when Nelson car- less penalties. A minor penalty was ried the play. assessed to the Lords with four minutes The Tigers struck for two goals in a remaining because one of their players nine-second span in the final minute of wasn't wearing a neck guard. the second, taking a 3-2 lead into the The Tigers and Irish will clash tomorintermission. Kellan Lain tied the game row at Burlington's Central Arena. on a goalmouth scramble, then Martin Game time is slated for 2 p.m. OAKVILLE SUMMER MINOR HOCKEY LEAGUE May - August Schedule · · · · · · · Non-Contact 12-game schedule No summer weekends or Fridays Prime time evening games Games at River Oaks Arena Balancing of teams Divisions for boys & girls ages 5-15 · Trophies & awards · Certified officials · Coaching & sponsorship positions available · No fundraising · "Vacation week" to assist with holiday planning www.oakvilleminorbaseball.com Email: omba@oakvilleminorbaseball.com 905-847-5545 Join ! The Fun Register on Sat. March 3rd at Oakville Place 9:30am-6:00pm New Clubhouse hours: Wed. 7-9 pm, Sat. 9-12 noon TYKE/NOVICE/ATOM PEE WEE/BANTAM MIDGET DIVISIONS Register by phone 905-849-9712 or www.hmhl.bizland.com Registration: Sat., March 3, 8:00-11:00am at Kinoak Sun., March 4, 2:00- 4:00pm at River Oaks