Blackstock goalie finding his game with Sr. A lacrosse team
June 10, 2008 - 01:20
By Shawn Cayley
OHSWEKEN -- The Brooklin Redmen have been awaiting a solid goaltending performance since start of the Major Series Lacrosse season.
Kurtis Wagar finally provided that on Sunday and it resulted in Brooklin's second win of the young season.
The second-year goaltender, who has struggled mightily at times, turned it up a notch against the Six Nations Chiefs and led the Redmen (2-3) to a 9-7 victory in Ohsweken.
"Kurtis came out strong and we built up a 5-1 lead and guys started playing very well, just outworking them," said general manager Wayne Colley. "Our team, our young guns, they worked their back ends off to get to where they got to."
Having failed to go the distance in his first two starts of the season, Wagar likely needed such a performance for the sake of his own mindset as the Redmen did for a sake of victory.
Wagar didn't make it to the midway point of the game in the season opener, yanked by coach Peter Vipond after just over 26 minutes of play and eight goals allowed. The next time out, in the club's home opener against a star-studded St. Regis lineup, Wagar was lifted just over eight minutes into the second.
Sunday was much different though.
"We're very happy. We finally got some goaltending, someone who can finally stop the ball for us," Colley said, noting the struggles of Wagar and fellow goaltender Matt Roik in the early going. "I believe they outshot us. I don't have the count, but I believe they did outshoot us and Kurtis was there when the saves needed to be done. We ran into a couple penalty problems midway through the third and that's why they got so close to us. Once we regained our composure we did quite well and the end result was good."
Colley said a change in mindset and a tweak of technique has contributed to Wagar's improved play of late, which included his efforts in the club's third game of the season, where he came in to relieve Roik and register the victory.
"This is only his second year and really he is a rookie," Colley began. "I am working with him in practice and trying to get him to slow down his mechanics. He's been moving too fast in comparison to what it is supposed to be. We've slowed it down a bit and he is starting to see a little bit of results. Hopefully he can continue on."
Scott Campbell provided much of the offence Sunday, scoring three times, while Shawn Williams had two and singles were provided by Steve Hutchins, Colin Baker, Geoff Griffiths and Derek Hopcroft.
The Redmen are back in action tonight, with Wagar slated to get the call in net against the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks at 8 p.m. at Iroquois Park.
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