The game was on from the first puck drop!












The Florida Beaches took to the ice never having been beaten by the Orlando Sirens in League play.  The Sirens jumped out to a
quick two goal lead early in the game which put the Beaches back on their heals a bit.  The girls were able to rally and would
eventually tie the game at three where it would remain until the end of regulation.  The game was almost ended with 3 minutes to go
in the game when the Sirens were awarded a penalty shot for a haul down on a breakaway by Susanne Lawson on one of their
players.  Louise Koski in net stopped the shot and the game then ended in a 3-3 tie. The Beaches were the dominent of the two
teams controlling most of the play in the Orlando zone but unable to get the puck past a very strong Sirens goalie.  The teams took to
the ice for a 4 minute overtime periods played four on four.  This also produced no goals.  A shoot out with 6 players from each team
was called which saw the Sirens score 1 goal and the Beaches score 1 goal.  Louise Koski in net for the Beaches basically stood on
her head in the shoot but in the second round in a sudden death shoot out  the sirens first attempt was good and the Beaches were
unable to score.  This saw the Sirens take the first game ever from the Florida Beaches  5-4.

The girls were down and a bit shocked at the outcome of the game.  The physicalness of the play was not what a lot of the girls were
use to and the speed at which the game was played was a bit of an eye opener for some of the girls.  The second game would prove
to be the best battle of the series.

With the Beaches basically in a due or die situation having dropped the first game they made a few personnel position changes and
with a gut check and call to reality talk from coach Tom King the Beaches came out flying.   Sarah Caza got the scoring started in the
first period.  The second period saw the Sirens get on the board and tie the game at 1-1.  Caza then scored again to put the Beaches
ahead but that did not last for long and the second period ended in a 2-2 tie.  The girls were nervous and feeling the effects of the
games fast pace and hard play but with 9:04 to go in the game Caza netted a over the shoulder goal to set the Beaches ahead and
they went on to win the second game 3-2.  Susan Eichler was the untested goalie in this match with the Beaches controlling most of
the play.  Tonya Sterk having been moved back onto defense helped control the blue line in this game.  She was a hugh asset with
her shot and smart play in the corners comment coach King.  The Beaches were moving on to the Championship game.

A beautiful blue sky in Florida greeted the players as they made their way to the Lake Worth Ice Zone for their Championship game.  A
great day for boating but a better day for hockey Susan Eichler the goalie for the Beaches was heard to say.  With the trophy just 36
minutes away the Beaches prepared for one of the biggest games of their Florida hockey careers.  A leave it all on the ice pre-game
talk was given by coach King and that is exactly what the Beaches did.  With the drop of the puck the Beaches assumed control of the
game and never let up.  At the end of the first period the game score was  3-0 the Beaches.  The first goal was scored by Sarah Caza
and then Katie Howard of the Beaches produced the game winner on a hard fought battle in front of the Sirens net.  Sarah then got
her second goal of the period which put the Beaches on top to stay.  The Sirens did score with 7:15 to go in the third but that would be
all with the Beaches again smothering the Sirens on offense.  They were the first to the puck and battled hard in the corners on each
and every play.  They left it all out on the ice and with a weary Captain Linda Belanger  accepting the trophy for her team, each player  
knew she had given it her all.   The individual medals for the players  were accepted with the biggest smiles of the day.  
Congratulations and hugs were shared by the team and a tremendous  round of applause was given by the fans in the stands for two
teams who played their hearts out on a beautiful day in South Florida.