MONTREAL – Rae Lekness scored three goals including the game winner as Alberta’s Calgary Renegades All Blacks defeated the Dollard Water Polo Club (2009 Champions) 8-1 on Sunday to win the gold medal at the 18U Women’s National Club Championships in Montreal, Quebec.

Shelby Taylor opened the scoring with an outside shot followed by back-to-back goals from the centre position from Lekness as the All Blacks built a 3-0 lead in the first 4:30 of the game.  Sam Phillips of the Dollard Water Polo Club scored the lone goal of the contest on a penalty shot with 0:27 remaining in the first quarter.

The Dollard Water Polo Club added some pressure on the All Blacks defence, but could not solve All Blacks goaltender Breanna Godzosa as she made several tough saves in the second period allowing her teammates to add to their lead.  The turning point in the game came at the end of the second period as Taylor scored her second of the game with a shot from her own end of the pool that crossed the goal line with 0:00 showing on the clock.  Taylor’s second goal of the contest gave the All Blacks a 5-1 lead at half time.

Godzosa and the All Blacks defence shut the door in the second half of the game, while the All Blacks offence added two more scores in the third quarter and their eighth goal came in the last minute of the game.

The All Blacks cruised through the round robin portion of the tournament, earned a difficult 10-8 victory over the Ottawa Titans in the quarterfinals, and won their semi final 6-3 against their Western rival from British Columbia – the Pacific Storm.

Pacific Storm won the bronze medal game 5-2 defeating the host CAMO Water Polo Club.  The Ottawa Titans finished fifth beating the Scarborough Shadow 12-10 in a shootout, while the Fraser Valley Water Polo Club finished seventh, and the Winnipeg Bushido eighth.

The 2010 18U Women’s National Club Championships marked the first time in the event’s twenty-four year history that a club from Alberta has captured the National title.  The Dollard Water Polo Club has won this event a record twelve times.

The Calgary Renegades All Blacks’ Shelby Taylor was named the tournament MVP, teammate Breanna Godzosa was named the tournament MVG, and Coach Chris Hammer the tournament’s most valuable coach.  The all star team members consist of Rae Lekness from the All Blacks, Amanda Amorosa from the Dollard Water Polo Club, Meghan Lappan form the Pacific Storm, Rebecca Wright from the Scarborough Shadow, Rebekka Steenkamer from the Ottawa Titans, and Sam Phillips form the Dollard Water Polo Club.

Please visit www.waterpolo.ca/1018uw.aspx for detailed results.