Comeback on road falls short

A fast start turned into a disastrous second period, a comeback in the third, but ultimately a 13-12 overtime loss for the St. Catharines Athletics Thursday night on the road against the Kitchener-Waterloo Braves.

The A’s led 5-2 after one period of play, but were outscored 7-1 in the second period, only to send the game to overtime tied at 11.

“We ran into a little bit of penalty troubles, and they scored three power-play goals in the second,” said St. Catharines assistant coach Rob Taylor

The loss snapped the Athletics’ five-game win streak and officially knocked them out of contention for finishing the regular season first in the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior A standings.

St. Catharines will now finish second or third in the 11-team league. The top eight teams qualify for the post-season.

“We have to learn how to lose, we have to learn to move forward, and play through adversity,” Taylor said. “For the guys to come back being down three goals going into the third, and then come back again in overtime being down one, you’re not going to win every game.”

Tye Kurtz paced the home side with four goals and four assists, while Alex Simmons had another hat trick and four helpers for the Athletics. Jake McNabb added two goals and four assists in the loss.

A’s defender Tom Whitty suffered a knee injury in the third period and with captain Latrell Harris leaving for Israel and the World Field Lacrosse Championships, Taylor is hoping Whitty’s injury isn't serious.

“It’s a little early to tell right now,” added Taylor.

“We’ll see how it feels Saturday and go from there,” added Taylor.

Nick Damude suffered the loss in goals as the Braves outshot St. Catharines 54-52.

Reed Kurtz’s first goal of the game, at the 6:40 mark of overtime, proved to be the gamewinner.

If the playoffs were to start today, the third-ranked Athletics would meet the sixth seeded Mimico Mountaineers. The two teams conclude their regular seasons tonight in Mimico.

A’s Acorns: Jacob Johnson and Tanner Vail were the scratches for St. Catharines ... Simmons now leads the A's in goal scoring with 36 on the season, one more than McNabb .. Former Athletic Spencer Pyke had two goals and four assists for Kitchener-Waterloo.