HAGERSVILLE— The Six Nations Bantam Reps had chances but couldn’t solve what was a hot Hagersville goaltender.
Opening their first round OMHA playoff series on Monday, January 13th at Hagersville Arena, Six Nations ended up hitting a couple of cross bars and generating lots of shots in what was a 5-0 Game 1 loss against the Hagersville Hawks.
“They’re a good team,” Bantam Rep goalie Ashlee LaForme said. “We have to capitalize on our chances more.” LaForme, who made a variety of highlight reel saves on this night went on to add, “They’re a fast team and we just have to stay out of the penalty box.”
LaForme made her mark early when 90 seconds into regulation she made a huge save in making a statement. Shortly after Six Nations had a couple of power plays where they got some chances with the best coming from Devan Lickers who was robbed twice from the slot.
As time began running down in the first, Hagersville scored the eventual game winner which came on the power play with 3:10 remaining to give them that all important 1-0 lead.
“In the first period we were strong. I told the team, that was one of the best periods we played all year,” Six Nations coach Neil Anthony said. “Our goaltender made some big saves and we had momentum.”
Early in the second, right after Six Nations forward Marc General was robbed in the slot, Hagersville responded shortly after with a huge power play insurance marker.
Riding the momentum of that second goal, Hagersville applied some heavy pressure and despite some more big saves from LaForme, managed to score a couple more as they were fully in control after two periods of play.
“We got away from things in the second,” Anthony said. “Marc but absolutely robbed. We had three or four great chances. Our next practice we’ll be working on moving the puck, getting traffic in front of the net. I thought we had a good first game.”
Proving to be a force on the forchceck was Lickers who a couple of times hunted down a lose puck in Hagersville’s end before setting up Dayton Jamieson for a one timer which was denied.
Hagersville, who had a variety of power plays on this night, managed to score a third period goal as they went on to celebrate a pivotal Game 1 of their best of five OMHA first round playoff series.
