Medal-winning performance
Three Cape Breton players earn soccer bronze with 1-0 win over Alberta
Unfortunately for Becca LeBlanc, she was Nova Scotia’s best cheerleader on the sidelines for her team’s bronzemedal win in women’s soccer at the 2017 Canada Games in Winnipeg.
The 15-year-old leftwing from Sydney injured her knee in the previous game, but was beaming with pride as her side defeated Alberta 1-0 in the bronze medal match on Thursday.
“It was a really close game and it was very stressful to watch,” said LeBlanc, who was on crutches after tearing her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). “I love playing for this team and I love all my teammates. It was a great experience.”
LeBlanc, along with 17-yearold winger Beatrice Currie of Sydney River and 18-yearold defender Olivia MacIntyre of Sydney were part of the medalwinning squad.
Sydney Kennedy of Fall River netted the lone goal for Nova Scotia in the victory, scoring in the 44th minute. Things got hectic with Alberta pressing in the late stages of the match, but Nova Scotia weathered the storm.
“Once we scored, it was definitely more defensive,” said Currie. “But until then, I think we were competing with them, going forward just as much as they were.
“In the end, we had to pick our battles and not take too many risks.”
The win came a day after Nova Scotia lost 5-0 to Quebec
in the semifinal round.
“One thing that’s really great about our team is that we can bounce back really quickly because we’re so close,” said MacIntyre. “We bring each other up and say ‘hey, shake it off’ and focus on the next game. That’s what I love about our team.”
Ontario and Quebec were set to play for gold late Thursday night.
In women’s basketball, Nova Scotia concluded play with a win, defeating British Columbia 66-56 to finish in seventh place.
Nalini Maharaj of East Bay scored three points and hauled down three rebounds in 18:23 of floor time. Elizabeth Iseyemi led the way with 18 points and seven boards, while Savannah Provo chipped in 11 points.
Nova Scotia was up 30-24 at the half, and held a lead of as many as 17 points. The team went on a 14-point run in the second half and never trailed the entire game.
The men’s softball team suffered a 9-3 setback to Quebec in the semifinal round on Thursday, and finished in fourth place.
Randall Bernard of Waycobah registered a hit in the game, while second baseman Levi Denny of Eskasoni was
held hitless, but scored a run.
In sailing, Siobhan MacDonald of Mabou is in third place in the 2.4mR para-sailing mixed event. The last day of competition is today at 1 p.m. Atlantic time at Gimli Yacht Club. Sasha Repko of Port Hawkesbury came in first in the 100metre Special Olympics ‘B’ final on Thursday in a time of 15.68 seconds. She finished in ninth place overall.
Also on the track, Dillon MacMillan of Port Hood finished eighth in the 400-metre wheelchair race in a time of one minute, 6.61 seconds. He placed eighth overall in the standings.