Solway Sharks Ladies make history by winning promotion to WNIHL Division 1

Solway Sharks Ladies made history on Sunday when they defeated Cardiff Comets 4-3 in the final of the Women’s National Ice Hockey League (WNIHL) Division 2 play-offs to earn promotion to WNIHL Division 1.

Throughout the game, the Comets and the Sharks, who are Scotland’s only team in the Women’s National Ice Hockey League (WNIHL), appeared evenly matched.

Trachtenberg scored in the first period to put the Sharks on the board but the Comets’ Olivia Taylor quickly weaved her way through Solway’s defence to score against Sharks’ unbeaten goaltender Lizzie Meikle.

Mo Muir answered back, firing a wrister past the Comets goaltender MacKenzie MacNamara, who won top goaltender for the WNIHL Division 2.

In the final two periods of the game, Taylor came back with two additional goals, earning a hat-trick and testing the mettle of the undefeated Sharks.

Trachtenberg capitalised on a shorthanded goal opportunity in the second period, while Meikle was able to keep the Comets in check for the remainder of the game.

The score was tied 3-3 heading into the final minutes of play. The Comets took a penalty, putting the Sharks on their well-rehearsed power play. With the puck firmly under control in the Comets zone, the Sharks made one final push for victory.

From the corner, Trachtenberg banked the puck off the boards to defensive player Gemma Watt at the point then Watt unleashed a shot that found the top right-hand corner of the Comets net, putting the Sharks up 4-3 with 30 seconds to go.

After keeping the Comets at bay for the remaining final moments of the game, the Sharks raced to goaltender Meikle to celebrate the moment and the magnitude of their historical achievement.

Watt deservedly earned the most valuable