Portage Coach Pleased With Accomplishments

The Portage Blaze are back home following a recent tournament which was met with mixed success.

The Blaze were in Ontario last weekend taking part in the Kenora Women's Invitational and in 3 round robin games posted a record of 1-1-1. In their first game versus Rave S.C., after giving up an early goal, Portage fought back to tie the contest and it ended in a 1-1 draw. Game 2 of the event saw the Blaze in action with Plaza Nemesis; the Blaze offense was fired up and that was reflected on the scoreboard with a 5-0 shutout. If the Blaze were to make Sunday's playoff round they needed at least a tie in their 3rd contest of the round robin, against Tagg's Tornadoes. After trailing 1-0 for most of the match up, the Blaze evened the score on a goal from Pam Nicoll with about 5 minutes remaining in the game, and it looked as though Portage would be off to the playoffs. However, with 1 minute left, a speedy Tornadoes forward, broke in behind the Blaze defence and made no mistake, burying the shot and snatching a 2-1 victory from Portage and ending their run at the competition.

Blaze Coach, Bryan Mintenko, says the trip to Kenora was a chance for the club to refine their skills, bond as a team and simply have fun without the pressures of league play; all of which he feels the club accomplished.

The Blaze won't have much down time as they begin the single elimination MSA Qualifying Tournament tomorrow night in a game versus the St. James Storm.