There was a familiar combination for the Okotoks Ladies Raiders with a twist.
Sure it was Bymak/Porter on the scoresheet in their 9-4 loss to the Rockyview Silvertips on Friday at the Murray Arena, but this time it was Kylie Porter and Ally Bymak rather than Julia Porter.
“I think tonight we saw the Silvertips were playing strong and we (Alley and I) were really looking for the passes because we were playing a lot of defence and not much offence,” Kylie said. “The first period we were something like 18 minutes of defence. We had to make something happen.”
It happened, but it was too late and way too little.
The Raiders dug themselves a deep hole as the Silvertips jumped out to a 3-0 lead the opening 15 minutes. Okotoks finally got on the board when Bymak scored an even strength goal on a feed from affiliate players Daely Keith and Kaylee Eyckelhoff.
However, Rockyview would score just 20 second later to take a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes.
The Silvertips would strike early in the second period with back to back goals, before the Raiders were able to right the ship with the revised Porter/Bymak combo.
Porter took a long pass from Bymak who ran up the court and beat the Silvertips goalie to close the gap to 6-2.
She scored again on a pinpoint shot to cut the margin to 6-3, Bymak also picked up the assist.
Rockyview went on to score three unanswered goals before Bymak closed out the scoring with an unassisted effort with four minutes left in the game to make the final score 9-4.
Bymak said it is a learning experience for the first-year team.
“We missed Julia for sure — for me a big part of my game is setting her up,” said Bymak, who was awarded the team’s game ball. “I knew as a team we had to step up and we tried our best.”
The Raiders got stymied at the start by the Raiders’ aggressive style.
“This was the first team that really pressured us on the transition,” Bymak said. “It was something new and we just have to respond in a positive way.
“But, I think that team is beatable.”
She said the Raiders have trouble getting into the ‘Tips offensive zone.
“I think if we would have, the game would have been a whole lot different,” Bymak said.
Raiders coach Don Turner said his squad got away from its control game early in the match.
“The second and third period was much better,” Turner said. “We haven’t played a team that was pressing us that hard.
“We were missing a few players because of the long weekend, including one of our leaders in Julia.”
The Raiders had three call-up players including goalie Ashley Perry, who was called up from Midget.
“She stopped what she was supposed to stop for us,” Turner said. “She played well — people forget the net is bigger in Junior than Midget so it takes a bit to adjust.
This is the Raiders’ first year and they continue to hold their own. The loss dropped Okotoks to 1-1 in the Rocky Mountain Junior A Ladies Lacrosse League.
“I was happy with the effort tonight,” Turner said. “We have only little things to fix and we are right in it.”
They are on the road this weekend against the St. Albert Drillers and the Capital Region Saints.
The Raiders’ next home game is May 31 when they take on the Calgary Cardinals at the Murray Arena. For more information go to rockymountainlax.com
