The Jr. Women's Silvertips unleashed their offensive artillery on the road with a 14-1 blowout against the St. Albert Drillers, May 6, and came close to toppling the Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League's  defending champs, the Edmonton Saints, on Sunday.

The landslide victory came against last year's league silver medallist and demonstrates the depth being developed in the 'Tips ranks. Half of the goals were scored by rookies and that can't be viewed as anything but positive news for the team.

"We've got a bunch of fresh young players and we're really excited," says head coach Todd Betterton. "These were only our fouth and fifth games of the season and we've seen a lot of maturity and a lot of skill development even in these first games."

Lauren Murphy scored four goals, Taylor McElroy earned a hattrick and had two assists and two goals were scored by Christina Olver, Kara Kondrat. Singles went to Jaimie Betterton, Rovanna Irvin and Annie Morrison, who also had two assists. Erin Greenan had two assists and other assists went to Kimberly Stainthrope and Samantha Mathews.

Sunday's game was a barn burner with the scoring going back and forth. The Silvertips were ahead by the end of one but the Edmonton Saints came back to take a 8-6 lead by the close of the second stanza. The Saints had two unanswered goals in the third and won 10-6. 

Head coach Betterton says the game proved the 'Tips can play with the best in the province and the game could have gone either way.

"In the third period, although we lost the game, we outshot the opposition two to one and we hit about four posts, so we got a bit unlucky. Their goalie got hot or else we might have had a chance to beat one of the best teams in the province"

"We can compete with them and we're really looking forward to the next match."

Christina Olver had a hattrick, and singles went to Rovanna Irvin, Kara Kondrat, Taylor McElroy, who also had three assists. Annie Morrison earned three assists and Erin Greenan had one. 

The Tips have a 1-3-1 record after five games but they've been turning the tide.

"We're a young team but we're a fast and skilled team," says Betterton. "We were able to execute the things we practise all the time and it was great to see it executed in a game."

All of their games have been played on the road so far and the Silvertips play their home season opener at the Plainsmen Arena in Airdrie this Friday against the Calgary Cardinals.

"They've been around a long time and they're a great team, so we're looking forward to that challenge," says Betterton.