Athletics dropping close games early in season
No excuses. That’s the message from St. Catharines Junior A Athletics head coach and general manager Sean Allen.
Despite not being able to floor a full roster, due to school commitments and injuries, Allen said the time is now for the A’s (1-4) to start stringing together victories.
“We’re hell bent on winning no matter who we dress on any given night,” said Allen after St. Catharines dropped a 6-5 overtime to decision at Six Nations Monday afternoon.
“We just need to find ways to win, and play with a lead. We really need to start grinding these games out and pulling some wins off.”
The Athletics led 5-2 heading into the third period against Six Nations.
On the positive side of the ledger has been the play of goaltenders Drayden Patey and Nick Damude, and the return of arguably the best defender in the Ontario Junior A Lacrosse Association in Latrell Harris.
Patey currently sports the third best goals against average in the league at 6.50, while Damude is fourth with a 6.61 GAA after making 51 saves on Monday.
“They way they play off one another, and the way they play when they’re in there is unbelievable,” Allen said. “Between our defence and goaltending — we just held Six Nations to five goals in regulation time. They’re the real deal.”
Harris scored a shorthanded goal in his return from the National Lacrosse League’s Toronto Rock in the loss to Six Nations.
“(Latrelle) is excited as anybody to be back,” said Allen who was also quick to praise captain and fellow defender Holden Garlent.
“It’s pretty neat to have Latrelle back, and it means a lot to the other players too. He was an incredible physical presence. There was a great deal of panic on the floor by Six Nations when he was out there.
Between him and Holden Garlent, and some of the picked off passes and forced turnovers, they were just spectacular to watch.”
St. Catharines also lost 9-7 in Orangeville Friday night.
Carter Zavitz (two goals and two assists) and Jeff Wittig (four assists) both had four point games in the loss, and are both tied for seventh in league scoring with 14 points apiece.
The Athletics do need to address is their powerplay, as they enter Wednesday’s home game against the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves with only one goal on the season with the man-advantage. On the flipside they’ve only allowed one powerplay goal against.
Wednesday’s game is an 8 p.m. start time at Jack Gatecliff Arena.
“We have to realize we’re as good as the Orangeville’s and Six Nations of the world,” said Allen.
“I think guys need to start realizing how good we are, and we need to start acting that way. They’re all must win games but now they’re very, very, important after this start.”
A’s Acorns: Alex Simmons and Brett Erksine (still away at school), Cree Blakely (flu) and Wittig (upper body injury) all did not dress for St. Catharines on Monday … Former Athletic Cody Ward had an assist for Six Nations on Monday, and now has two goals and five assists in three games for the Arrows this season.