ORANGEVILLE – The early string of six straight wins to open the 2017 Jr. B lacrosse season was broken Monday night in Orangeville. The Northmen, who won the Presidents Cup last season, represent the stiffest competition the Rebels have run into so far.
The Northmen already had the engine running when the Rebels bus arrived and came right at them building a 3-0 lead before Kevin Owen Hill temporarily stopped the bleeding from Gates Abrams at 16:24. However, that was only a blip on the screen as Orangeville answered at 18:19 to complete the first period 4-1 for the hosts.
The Rebels would like to forget about the middle period when the Northmen added four unanswered goals for a commanding 8-1 two period score.
Whether the Rebels dressing room was loud or quiet between periods is unknown, but the result was a Rebels mini-comeback with Owen Hill scoring his second of the game and Tanner Baldwin earning the final goal in the 8-3 loss.
Even in the loss, there was one season objective new coach Miles General set out in preseason.
“If we can keep our opponents from double digits, we will be fine,” he said then.
Granted, the Six Nations Jr. B Rebels conditioning and season readiness is never an issue in the early season where lacrosse is a year-round sport, in one form or another. But setting aside Monday’s loss in Orangeville, this year’s Rebels’ dominance is already showing.
Heading into Monday’s game in Orangeville, only six games into the 2017 season, the Rebs have inflicted 99 goals against opponents while keeping the goals against to single digits, except for a 13-10 win in Owen Sound, a total of 41 goals against.
Friday night at the ILA, the Six Nations Rebels got a second kick at the Niagara Thunderhawks this young season and proved that the earlier 15-9 Rebels win was not a fluke. By the time the final buzzer mercifully sounded, the Rebels had delivered a 21-6 pounding to the visitors.
Justin Martin led the Rebel charge with four goals and four assists. Wes Whitlow had a nine-pointer on thee goals and six assists. Layne Smith and Sidney Powless each went three goals and two assists for five-point nights while Wake:Riat Bowhunter went 2-3 for his five point game.
Last Thursday in Hamilton the Rebels took away the 16-7 win.
Looking ahead, the next challenge for this year’s Rebels comes Friday night at 8 p.m., at the ILA, when the St. Catharines Spartans are visiting Six Nations.
On Saturday, May 13, Six Nations are on he road to see the Point Edward Pacers of the Far West Division.
