Athletics Lacrosse Day winners

St. Catharines edges Whitby to improve record to 8-4

The third annual Lacrosse Day in Niagara turned out to be a winning night for the St. Catharines Athletics.

Jake McNabb’s fourth goal of the game, 15:43 into the third period, proved to be the gamewinner as the A’s improved their record in junior A lacrosse to 8-4 with an 8-6 victory over the Whitby Warriors Saturday at Jack Gatecliff Arena.

“It was a very hard-fought game at both ends of the floor, ” said Athletics assistant coach Rob Taylor.

“Our defence played very well starting with (goaltender Nick) Damude. The offence executed on the power play.”

The loss dropped Whitby to 7-7. McNabb’s 32 goals on the season put the Owen Sound native into fourth place in the Ontario junior A lacrosse goal-scoring race.

“McNabb has been lights out this season,” Taylor said. “And he’s scoring goals at important points of games.”

Alex Simmons had one goal and three assists. Jeff Wittig added two goals and one helper, and Carter Zavitz one goal and

two assists for St. Catharines.

“It’s nice to see the offence working so well together and picking each other up,” added Taylor.

“On any given night, we can have several different players taking control of the game.”

Damude turned aside 24 Whitby shots to pick up his seventh win of the campaign.

The A’s continued their fourgame home stand last night against the Brampton Excelsiors, 7-5.

A’s Acorns: The Athletics have had a league-high 73 powerplay opportunities through 12 games, and are clicking at 26 per cen with the man-advantage, which is fourth best in the junior A loop …. Both A’s head coach Steve Toll and defender Brad Fannell celebrated their birthdays over the weekend: Fannell turned 20, while Toll turned 43 ... Toll was part of the 1991 Minto Cup Athletics team honoured before the game.

“On any given night, we can have several different players taking control of the game.”

ROB TAYLOR

St. Catharines Athletics assistant coach