The St Timothy Thunder women’s field hockey team started off their season the way they ended their last campaign, with a crushing win.
The Thunder smashed Bishop O’Byrne 5-0 on April 21 at the Calgary Soccer Centre in the first game of the new Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association (CSHAA) season.
Maddy Cruickshank, Amber Meyers, Hannah Sharp, Gabie Pilling, and Sophia Nowicki all got on the scoresheet for the Cochrane side, in a one-sided game where the Thunder pinned down Bishop O’Byrne in their own half for the majority of the contest.
“We knew (O’Byrne) would be a tough game,” said Thunder head coach Michael Arsenault. “We knew what our strengths were going into this season, so we just wanted to develop our skills for this game. We wanted to get all our girls playing, and prepare them for what is going to be a tough year.”
The Thunder won the city championship last season, and this season’s squad includes a solid mix of veterans and rookie grade tens.
“It’s about half and half,” Arsenault said of his team’s makeup. “We have five seniors out of our 20-team roster, so there definitely is some difference from our team compared to last season.
“I would say we do have a better mix this time since we have lots of different girls from grades 10, 11, and 12. Our veteran presence is fantastic. I don’t have a lot of coaching to do, because the girls are so tuned in.”
After winning the championship in his first season as head coach, what does Arsenault expect of his side this time out?
“I’ve always told the girls that it’s easier to win a city championship than it is to win one,” he said. “I just want them to go out, have fun, and try to defend our title.”
The Thunder play Lester B. Pearson on April 27 at the Calgary Soccer Centre.
Kick-off is 5:15 p.m.
