Brooklin continues to take too many penalties
May 15, 2008 - 11:07 AM
By Ryan Chalmers
BROOKLIN -- The Brooklin Merchants Senior B Lacrosse team is no longer undefeated after losing consecutive games.
In an attempt to build on the momentum from opening the season with three straight wins, the Merchants first dropped a close decision, 6-5 to the Ajax/Pickering Rock at home and lost to the Wellington Aces on the road, 11-6.
"With so many new faces in the lineup and so many guys just starting their senior lacrosse careers, they have to understand that it's a very balanced league," said head coach Steve McCarthy. "You have to come ready to play and execute every game because nothing is to be taken for granted."
In their first of the back-to-back games, the Merchants took on the winless Rock, a team that according to McCarthy, executed their game plan and had incredible goaltending. He knew last week that the game would be close, and the 6-5 final score showed just that.
"Coming into a game 3-0 against a rebuilding team, some guys might have been a little over confident," explained McCarthy. "We let them hang around for too long and got beat by a team that wanted it (the win) a little more that day."
After losing for the first time in the young season, the Merchants left the friendly confines of the Luther Vipond Arena and hit the road to take on another undefeated team in Wellington. Brooklin had 33 penalty minutes to the Aces 12, leading to five unanswered goals in the third period.
"We were up 6-4 late in the second period and we took a five minute major penalty for hitting from behind which allowed them to score two late goals," noted McCarthy. "They carried that momentum into the third and we never got back on track."
The balanced scoring attack continues for the Merchants with 13 different players having scored at least once. McCarthy knows that the strength of the offensive output for his team has been the right side but against Wellington, five goals came from the left,
"We got zero contribution from the right side," McCarthy said. "We certainly need to work on our offense and need to get more from the right."
Up next, the Merchants will be looking for revenge when they take on the Rock at home on May 24 at 7 p.m.
"We have a chance to heal up some minor injuries and refocus with the time off, so when we get back, it can be on a winning note," added McCarthy.
Ryan Chalmers is a Durham College journalism student currently on placement with the Metroland Durham Region Media Group
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