The Calgary Kookaburras have completed their final local hit-outs for the summer and have their sights set on next week's end-of-season trip to the US National Championships in Mason, Ohio (Oct. 8-12).
In a fitting end to the 2009 season, the club travelled north for the inaugural Battle of Alberta game versus the Edmonton Emus and escaped with a narrow win. The Emus fielded their strongest squad yet and showed how much they have improved in being first to the ball and holding their structure, causing problems for the Kookaburras midfield. Edmonton coped with 12-a-side footy better and led by 7 points going into the first change. Calgary coach Jake Anson was animated during the break and urged his girls to get first use of the ball and to provide better movement up forward. The Kookaburras responded in the second quarter, kicking two goals to go into half-time with a 7-point lead, despite losing key forward Lori Bossert with a broken finger.
Edmonton lifted a gear in the third, throwing themselves at the contested ball and attacking relentlessly, until a knee injury sent Emus ruckwoman Neda Dalili to hospital and upset their structure. Erin Leblanc and captain Steph Tooke kicked goals for the Emus, but Calgary responded through Beck Jones and Vicki Hewitt to lead by 12-points at three-quarter time. Edmonton coach Tristan Waldock used the break to ask his charges for one final quarter of polished football, but Calgary used the wind to their advantage and capped off a hard-fought win with a Kate Ross goal on the siren.
Battle of Alberta - McNally Senior High School (September 19, 2009)
Calgary Kookaburras 6.5 (41) def. Edmonton Emus 3.3 (21)
Goals Calgary: Ross 2, Scanlon 2, Jones, Hewitt. Goals Edmonton: LeBlanc 2, Tooke.
Best Calgary: Zakus, Ross, Scanlon, Hewitt. Best Edmonton: LeBlanc, Galick, Tooke, Norsworthy.
The game was followed by an end-of-season function at Edmonton's sponsor pub - the Walkabout Pub on Whyte Ave. The following Alberta Footy Women's League awards were presented:
AFWL Best & Fairest (tie): Lori Bossert (Hillhurst) & Kathryn Zakus (Kensington).
AFWL Rising Star: Sarah Eddie (Hillhurst).
AFWL Top Goalkicker: Kathryn Zakus (Kensington - 18).
All-Alberta Squad: Lori Bossert, Sarah Eddie, Caitlin Kidd, Alicia Scanlon, Lyndsay Smith, Lesley Zmurchuk (all Hillhurst); Rebecca Jones, Vicki Hewitt, Char Olm, Kate Ross, Kathryn Zakus (all Kensington); Neda Dalili and Marie Galick (both Edmonton).
The presentation was a great conclusion to a very fun summer of footy. The Emus also presented their club awards on the night, winners of which are reported here.
Calgary backed-up on September 24 in a final intra-club night match. Calgary White stole a narrow victory over Calgary Blue and the coaching panel would have taken a lot away from the game to assist in the selection of US Nationals squads, details of which will be posted online shortly.
In a fitting end to the 2009 season, the club travelled north for the inaugural Battle of Alberta game versus the Edmonton Emus and escaped with a narrow win. The Emus fielded their strongest squad yet and showed how much they have improved in being first to the ball and holding their structure, causing problems for the Kookaburras midfield. Edmonton coped with 12-a-side footy better and led by 7 points going into the first change. Calgary coach Jake Anson was animated during the break and urged his girls to get first use of the ball and to provide better movement up forward. The Kookaburras responded in the second quarter, kicking two goals to go into half-time with a 7-point lead, despite losing key forward Lori Bossert with a broken finger.
Edmonton lifted a gear in the third, throwing themselves at the contested ball and attacking relentlessly, until a knee injury sent Emus ruckwoman Neda Dalili to hospital and upset their structure. Erin Leblanc and captain Steph Tooke kicked goals for the Emus, but Calgary responded through Beck Jones and Vicki Hewitt to lead by 12-points at three-quarter time. Edmonton coach Tristan Waldock used the break to ask his charges for one final quarter of polished football, but Calgary used the wind to their advantage and capped off a hard-fought win with a Kate Ross goal on the siren.
Battle of Alberta - McNally Senior High School (September 19, 2009)
Calgary Kookaburras 6.5 (41) def. Edmonton Emus 3.3 (21)
Goals Calgary: Ross 2, Scanlon 2, Jones, Hewitt. Goals Edmonton: LeBlanc 2, Tooke.
Best Calgary: Zakus, Ross, Scanlon, Hewitt. Best Edmonton: LeBlanc, Galick, Tooke, Norsworthy.
The game was followed by an end-of-season function at Edmonton's sponsor pub - the Walkabout Pub on Whyte Ave. The following Alberta Footy Women's League awards were presented:
AFWL Best & Fairest (tie): Lori Bossert (Hillhurst) & Kathryn Zakus (Kensington).AFWL Rising Star: Sarah Eddie (Hillhurst).
AFWL Top Goalkicker: Kathryn Zakus (Kensington - 18).
All-Alberta Squad: Lori Bossert, Sarah Eddie, Caitlin Kidd, Alicia Scanlon, Lyndsay Smith, Lesley Zmurchuk (all Hillhurst); Rebecca Jones, Vicki Hewitt, Char Olm, Kate Ross, Kathryn Zakus (all Kensington); Neda Dalili and Marie Galick (both Edmonton).
The presentation was a great conclusion to a very fun summer of footy. The Emus also presented their club awards on the night, winners of which are reported here.
Calgary backed-up on September 24 in a final intra-club night match. Calgary White stole a narrow victory over Calgary Blue and the coaching panel would have taken a lot away from the game to assist in the selection of US Nationals squads, details of which will be posted online shortly.
