Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

After eight years of playing in Division II and winning the 2006-07 and the 2007-08 indoor championship title the Stars moved on to Division 1 this season and maintained a spot in third right from the start.

Not expecting to do well in Division 1 the Stars were looking at falling into the bottom on the division . The Division 1 teams have always been faster and seemingly more skilled. Teams in this division have been playing together since high school and since the beginning of the indoor league. With a hard season ahead of the Stars they stepped onto the field for their first game in October and walked away with a 2-1 victory over Bold Signs. Surprised and confident they went on to win 7 out of 20 games beating all 5 teams in the Division 1 league with the exception of a 1-1 tie against the number two team State Farm.

The Stars ended their regular season with 24 points with Akwesasne Sports picking up the fourth place spot with 20 points. They earned a spot in playoffs this past Sunday. Akwesasne Sports stepped up to play the first place team Glengarry Gaels and ended with a 5-0 loss. The Stars hit the turf at 11:00 am to face State Farm for the final time this season. The Stars came out hard getting the first goal off the head of Sabrina Adams with a shot sent in by Calandra Curleyhead. The Stars held onto their lead until State Farm snuck in on the Stars’ defense and knocked in a shot to tie up the game. With time running out in the first half State Farm knocked in a second goal off the hand of one of their forwards. With a short protest against the goal it was clear that the Stars would have to play hard to gain the lead once more. Going into the second half of the game both teams fought until the end both coming up without a goal ending the game 2-1 for State Farm.

Back left to right: Tammy David, Heather Garrow, Diane Lazore, Lindsay Tarbell. Front: Carrie Smoke, Calandra Curlyhead, Allison Smiddy, Leighann McDonald and Sabrina Adams.

The Stars felt great about this season and having made it so far in a league that was set upon them as being too good for them. The Stars showed what a little heart and determination can get you. The Stars have a very talented group of women playing together and they all love to play the game. Players like Calandra Curleyhead who is listed in third place amongst the top ten scorers in the league with 11 goals and the only Native player to make this list . Calandra is our center forward and she sets the pace for our girls and we look to her to put the plays together along with forwards Sabrina Adams , Carrie Smoke , Leighann Mcdonald, Heather Garrow, Sydnie Garrow, and Krysta Barilko as they control the game on offence. Pair this with one of our strongest defensive lines so far with Lindsay Tarbell, Tammy David and Diane Lazore we hold a strong back line . If you make it past the defense we have Allison Smiddy playing nets and clearly without Smiddy the Stars would have had a harder time making it as far as they did. Smiddy has kept us in so many close games that we wouldn’t be as strong without her in nets; she is simply amazing. The Stars are looking forward to many more years in Division 1 and hopefully bringing home a Division 1 Championship title in the future.

Player goals for the 2008/09 season

Calandra Curleyhead 11

Carrie Smoke 5

Diane Lazore 3

Sabrina Adams 3

Sydnie Garrow 2

Heather Garrow 2

Krysta Barilko 1

Allison Smiddy 5 Shut outs