The Ravens won their second straight Cowichan Women’s Football League championship title and third in the last four years with a 32-6 win over an injury-ridden Blue Steel team at McAdam Park last Friday.
The Ravens scored once in the first quarter, then added three more in the second to take a 26-0 lead into halftime. Blue Steel got one touchdown back early in the third, but the Ravens answered back once in that quarter, and Blue Steel ended up pulling their flags with eight minutes left in the fourth after losing five players to injuries.
Chelsea Strandlund led the way for the Ravens with two touchdowns and two converts in the second quarter, along with two interceptions in the first and one each in the second and third.
Rikki Wylie, Carolyn Gudmundseth and Amy Aitcheson also scored for the Ravens, while Jenna Bugden set the tone on defence with four sacks and Jamie Russell had an interception.
Blue Steel’s lone touchdown came from Roby Clement.
The CWFL held its year-end banquet on Saturday night, where Jaimie Olson of the Law was named 2019 Most Valuable Player and Bugden was honoured as Rookie of the Year.
Other awards were handed out to one player on each team:
Best Offence: Heidi Haslam (Blue Steel), Dani Robb (Crew), Caitlin Erickson (Storm), Shay Davidson (Wild), Jamie Russell (Ravens), Jaimie Olson (Law)
Best Defence: Monni Savory (Blue Steel), Jess Lines (Crew), Jenn Elliott (Storm), Rhi Kemmler (Wild), Carolyn Gudmundseth (Ravens), Sara Tweten (Law)
Most Inspirational: Heidi Haslam (Blue Steel), Wilhelmina Toews (Crew), Rachel Paddle (Storm), Jeannine Gaudreau (Wild), Becki Paterson (Ravens), Wendy Charles (Law)
Most Sportsmanlike: Brittany Stinson (Blue Steel), Stepheny Cuthbert (Crew), Jennifer Elliott (Storm), Ashley Bond (Wild), Rikki Wylie (Ravens), Wendy Charles (Law)
All six CWFL teams will play in Sun Bowl XXXIV at McAdam Park this Friday to Sunday, where they will be joined by 10 more squads from Victoria and Vancouver.
