5-goal third period lifts A’s over Northmen
It doesn’t matter the sport, 99.9 per cent of coaches will tell you: “Defence wins championships.”
Defence was the difference for the St. Catharines Athletics Saturday night as the A’s battled back to beat the Orangeville Northmen 8-6 in junior A lacrosse before an enthusiastic crowd at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
The Athletics trailed the Northmen 5-3 heading into the third period and would, in fact, fall behind 6-3 4:39 into the final frame before reeling off five straight goals.
A’s captain Latrell Harris was his imposing self setting the tone for — and during — the comeback with monstrous hits at both ends of the floor.
Steve Toll said Harris can do that every game on every shift.
“He’s really played well the last two games,” said the St. Catharines firstyear head coach. “He’s gotten two or three breakaways per game, and every guy he hits falls down.
“It’s unbelievable, I haven’t seen anything like it in a long time.”
Harris, who just completed his second season playing professionally with the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock, had a message for his teammates earlier this season.
“We lost against Kitchener (May 23) and that was a big loss, and we said we’re never going to lose at home again this season,” the 20-year old St. Catharines native said.
“We had a job to do tonight, and all 20 of us came out and did it.”
Harris is aware that Toll and the coaching staff want him to play even more physically.
“Before I just wanted to make sure my team was understanding everything, and everyone else was OK, but I have to make sure I’m in the right place and have the right mindset.
“I’m starting to see it (that I need to be even more physical) Toller knows what’s he talking about. We just have to keep listening to him.”
And while Harris and the rest of the Athletics defence was setting the tone for the offence Jake McNabb’s second goal of the game, and team-leading 13th of the season, proved to be the game-winner as the A’s improved to 3-3 on the season.
St. Catharines Spartan junior B callup Mario Caito also scored twice for the Athletics, while Jeff Wittig, Carter Zavitz, Alec Tamas and Mason Kamminga added singles.
Nick Damude turned aside 36 Orangeville shots to pick up the win as the A’s get set to host Toronto Beaches Wednesday. Game time at Jack Gatecliff Arena is 7:30 p.m.
“The key is consistency, and bring that game (tonight’s) all the time,” Toll said. “To come up with a victory, and a comeback win, feels nice.”
St. Catharines rebounded from a 7-6 road loss to the Barrie Lakeshores on Friday night.
Orangeville fell to 3-4.
A’s Acorns: Alex Simmon, school; and Brett Erskine, ankle; were out of the Athletics lineup … Caito and Connor Aquanno were called up from the junior B St. CatharinesSpartans … The A’s would like to remind fans that Saturday, June 16, is Lacrosse Day in Niagara. Nonperishable food items will be collected at the team’s 7 p.m. game against the Whitby Warriors.