Victoria Smith Scores

Emily Csikos of Calgary, Sophie Baron La Salle of Montreal and Victoria Smith of Maple Ridge, scored three goals apiece to lead the Northern Lights to a 12-11 victory over the Central Senators in the championship final at this past weekend’s Canadian Select League women’s water polo tournament.

It was quite a comeback for the Northern Lights who went 0-4 in last year’s championship tournament. This year they were 3-1 in the round robin for first place and earned a bye to the final.

In the bronze medal game, Joelle Békhazi of Pointe-Claire notched the hat trick as the Prairie Dogs took the East Coast Sharks 13-6. It was the first time in two years, the Sharks, the 2009 champions, didn’t reach the final.

Monika Eggens of Maple Ridge and a member of the Central Senators was the tournament’s most valuable player and the tournament’s top scorer with 19 goals.

Ottawa’s Jessica Gaudreault of the Northern Lights was named the most valuable goalie.

The tournament all star team members were Baron La Salle, Whitney Genoway (Regina) of the Northern Lights, Anna Yelizarova (Ville LaSalle) of the Senators, Békhazi, Valérie Dionne (Quebec City) of the Prairie Dogs and Kelly McKee (Calgary) for the West Coast Wildcats.

The MVPs for each team were Csikos for the Northern Lights, Eggens for the Senators, Krystina Alogbo of Rivieres-des-Prairies for the Prairie Dogs, Rosanna Tomiuk of Beaconsfield for the Sharks and Christine Robinson of Lachine for the West Coast Wildcats.

The most valuable coaches were the Northern Lights staff comprised of Justin Mitchell, Andrew Robinson and Brooke Zimmerman.

The league helps national team staff to identify, evaluate, monitor, and select athletes to represent Canada on the international stage at all levels and for all events.

Athletes and coaches are coming from cities across Canada as well as Canadian and American universities.

Information: https://www.waterpolo.ca/cslteams.aspx

Special Thanks to Heather Kaulbach Operations Manager Water Polo Canada for the info.