Athletics fall in triple OT
The St. Catharines Athletics had a third-period comeback and a miracle comeback in the first overtime period, but in the end it wasn’t enough.
Burlington Chief’s Luke Pilcher scored with 3:48 gone in the third overtime period to lift the visitors to a 6-5 victory over the Athletics. The best-of-seven Ontario Lacrosse Association semifinal series is now tied 1-1 with Game 3 Monday night Burlington.
The first comeback came in the third period when the A’s rallied from a 4-2 deficit to send the game to overtime.
The second comeback was unbelievable. Trailing 5-4 in the first overtime with five seconds left on the clock, the A’s called a timeout with the ball in their own end. When time resumed, Carter Zavitz raced the length of the floor and fed Jake McNabb. McNabb blasted a high shot into the Burlington net as time expired. The game sheet listed the goal as coming with one second left but it was more like a millisecond.
“We knew we were giving the ball to Nabber (Jake McNabb) and it just happened to work out,” said Zavitz.
The Athletics assistant captain agreed things weren’t looking too positive when he started out with the ball.
“Five seconds left, the ball starting in our end, you just have to hope for the best.”
Things worked out, but it meant that the teams had to play even more lacrosse on a night when the Jack Gatecliff felt like a sauna.
“It would definitely have been easier to lose 10-2,” Zavitz said. “6-5 is a long game and it was a battle the entire time. Going to triple overtime is mentally and physically exhausting for both teams.
“The guys gave it everything they got, but we are going to be back at it tomorrow night and we will be ready to go.”
As the game dragged on, the players had to persevere.
“Everyone is drinking water and you can’t do much else,” Zavitz said. “You just have to catch your wind, go outside and enjoy the breeze for a few minutes and then you get right back at it.”
Athletics head coach Steve Toll had no secret strategy to combat the heat and fatigue.
“You just tell them to drink lots of water and Gatorade,” he said. “That’s all you can do. Be prepared and keep hydrated.”
Toll wasn’t happy with his team’s performance.
“I don’t think it really matters how we lost,” he said. “We were down a few guys and we didn’t execute at all today.
“Nicky (goalie Damude) and the D played great again at times but there was a shot, the guy turned his head and a guy ran to the net. It was a silly mistake that we can’t make and they out-worked us and they deserved to win today. We didn’t.”
Zavitz pointed to another reason for the setback.
“We only put up five goals and the offence wasn’t clicking like we usually do. But that being said, it’s a long series. We have to forget about that game and move on.”
Toll has a few things in mind to help his team regain home-floor advantage.
“We have to come back, change a few things, change a few guys in and out of the lineup and get some fresh legs.”
STATS PACK
Chiefs 6 Athletics 5 (3OT)
BPSN Star of the Game: St. Catharines’ Jake McNabb with a hat trick.
For the St. Catharines Athletics: McNabb (3); Carter Zavitz, Braydon Mayea.
For the Burlington Chiefs: Damon Currie, Jason Knox, Colin Hunt, Sam English, Matt Anderson, Luke Pitcher
Game stats: Shots on goal: By St. Catharines on Drew Hutchison 55; by Burlington on Nick Damude 59. Power plays: St. Catharines 0-5; Burlington 0-2.
Up next: Game 3 is Monday at Burlington at 8 p.m. with Game 4 Wednesday at Jack Gatecliff Arena at 8 p.m.
