A’s knock off league leaders
Alex Simmons responds to coach’s challenge
Head coach Steve Toll challenged Alex Simmons to be better after Monday’s loss to Brampton and the Smithville native wasn’t just good, he was great as the St. Catharines Athletics knocked off the first-place Burlington Chiefs 10-8 in Ontario Lacrosse Association junior A action Wednesday night at Jack Gatecliff Arena in St. Catharines.
“He (Toll) got on me a bit, and kept giving it to me about moving the ball more, and I listened and it obviously worked,” said Simmons, who scored four goals and four assists.
“I needed to respond tonight. Toller kept saying great players play big in big-time games, and I think I needed this. We all needed this.”
Simmons, a graduate of Culver Academy in Indiana and a University of Denver commit, recorded his fourth hat trick in just seven games played this season.
“To me he (Simmons) didn’t have his best game against Brampton, and I challenged him tonight one-on-one and he answered the bell,” Toll said.
And while Simmons was lighting it up on the offensive end, Athletics captain Latrell Harris played easily his most physical game of the season simply dominating Burlington players at times.
“I needed a game like that,” said Harris, who was named to the Canadian national men’s field lacrosse team earlier in the day.
“It’s nice to get the win tonight. We just have to keep that play up.”
Toll knows Harris is an intimidating player and factor on the floor.
“When he plays like that, almost every guy he touches goes down,” Toll said. “His defensive prowess, if I was an O (offence) guy, I wouldn’t want to go near him.”
Kealon Pilon had his best game in junior A lacrosse with one goal and six assists for the A’s, while
Jeff Wittig had one goal and four helpers. Carter Zavitz scored a hat trick and added an assist.
The win improves St. Catharines’ record to 9-5, which surpasses the team’s win total of last season.
Burlington fell to 11-3.
Toll is happy where the A’s sit heading into their final six games of the regular season.
“The way I always look at things in this league is that you have to go eight (wins) for 10 at home, and five for 10 on the road,” explained Toll.
“Right now, we’re on a good little pace. We can’t lose any more at home, and we just have to get a couple more road wins.”
A’s Acorns: Brett Erskine (ankle) Jake McNabb (shoulder) and Brad Fannell (healthy) were the regular Athletics scratches for the game, while Mario Caito and Connor Aquanno (St. Catharines Spartans) and Gavin McGregor (Welland Generals) were inserted into the A’s lineup ... Defender Jacob Johnson left the game with a shoulder injury ... Harris and cousin Tyson Bell, a former Athletic, were named to the Canadian field lacrosse team for the world championship next month in Israel.
“Toller kept saying great players play big in big-time games, and I think I needed
this. We all needed this.”
ALEX SIMMONS
St. Catharines Athletics forward