So much for first-year jitters, rookie growing pains.
The Okotoks Lady Raiders are proving they can more than hang with the best in the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League’s junior division with three wins in its past four games and a third-place seeding.
“The team is really coming together and they’re playing very hard for each other,” said head coach Don Turner. “A lot of these girls have never played together before so getting to know each other, getting to know where they’re going to be on the floor and the natural flow of the game is starting to come.”
So are the wins.
After dropping their first game as a franchise the Raiders have responded with victories in three of their last four and a few of the extremely lopsided variety.
“It’s important for the team, important for the brand of our team. We’re trying to grow it,” Turner said. “If you have success people will want to play. You can still grow if you don’t have success, but by winning and proving that we belong and the girls starting to believe in themselves that they do belong, it’s making for a huge confidence boost.”
Okotoks looked the part of 15-1 victors Sunday at home to the visiting St. Albert Drillers.
“It was the second game in two days and they left it all on the floor. They were fantastic,” Turner said. “The last few games, our kids who’ve started the game maybe the last two years like Rebecca Toney, she got the game ball today.
“I don’t know if it’s the pressure, natural athletics or what, but she’s really starting to blossom. She was all over the ball today and she’s come along so far.”
The dynamic duo of Ally Bymak and Julia Porter continue to do much of the heavy lifting on offence while goaltender Hailee Turner has found her stride as a newcomer to the position.
Team Alberta alums Kylie Porter and Mikayla Reschke have also taken their game to the next level in their first foray in junior.
“They’re adjusting really well to this new game,” the coach added. “They’re getting points every game, lots of assists, they’re stepping up their game. I expected that because they are good players, but the whole rest of the roster is brand new.
“They’re picking up the game, getting great leadership from Ally and Julia.”
The Raiders will look to make it consecutive victories when they get back on the floor for a battle with the Rockyview Silvertips on May 19 (8:30 p.m.) at the Murray Arena.
For schedule information go to rockymountainlax.com
