Lacrosse: Midget team clutch early

By Medicine Hat News on May 7, 2019.

Now that’s how you start your lacrosse season.

Medicine Hat’s midget Sun Devils opened their campaign in Okotoks this past weekend, winning a tournament final in overtime Sunday night.

Facing a team from Denver, the Devils won 10-9 in the sudden death OT. Bryson Helmle’s hat trick led the way while Matthew MacPherson, Ty Moore, Cameron Jackle, Jeylen Ferreirra-Smeed, Ethan Machan and Quinn Canadine also scored in the thrilling finale.

Medicine Hat went 4-0 at the event, opening with a 14-5 win over Innisfail Friday and adding wins against Brooks (6-2) and Lethbridge (7-2) Saturday. Offensive highlights from those games included Zachary McBride’s hat trick against Lethbridge and Helmle’s five (plus two assists) in the Innisfail game.

Bantam

Both Sun Devils bantam teams were in Lethbridge Saturday, a wild day featuring three shutouts and three teams scoring 19 goals.

The Bantam 2 team put up gaudy numbers, shutting out both Crowsnest and the host Cudas 2 by identical 19-0 scores. Zach Angstadt didn’t let up anything in net, though judging by the scoreline it’s not as though chances were even.

Houston Eakins had a four-goal game against the Cudas. Jayden Richards had hat tricks in each game. Carson Christianson added three versus Lethbridge while Josh Evaschesen and Wyatt Dreger put up three each against Crowsnest.

For the Bantam 1’s, they opened with a 10-0 shutout of Cudas 2, who clearly had a rough day. Hudson Gainer had four goals and an assist, while Torin Thickson and Madden Kelly added a pair of goals each. Faicng the Cudas 1 team, it was a different story in a 19-3 loss. Everett Liefso had two goals and Kelly the other.

Peewee

It wasn’t a tournament but four games in two days must have made it feel like one for the peewee Sun Devils.

At the Kinplex Saturday they lost 9-0 to Brooks, then beat Cudas 3 (Taber) 11-2. Jaxon Buscholl was in net for both games while Silas Swan had a four-goal second game. Deklan Bell and Nolan Pugh scored their first-ever goals as well.

In Brooks Sunday, the host Drillers won 13-1 despite Talan Wagner’s goal. The Devils were closer against Claresholm but lost 7-5, getting two goals from Ryder Farrell.

Novice

Novice teams filled the Kinplex Saturday and Sunday, having far different results.

The Novice 2 team beat Brooks 13-0 and Lethbridge Cudas 1 9-4 Saturday. Torren Zentner had seven goals against Brooks and another five against Lethbridge. Dane Friedt had five against Brooks, and Dane Steifel added three against the Cudas.

As for Novice 1’s Devils, they lost 12-1 to Cudas 1, 14-3 to Brooks Saturday, then lost 7-1 to Cudas 2 on Sunday. No scorers were reported.

Tykes

The Sun Devils’ tykes won 5-3 over Brooks in Rosemary Sunday, then 13-1 against Lethbridge to wrap up an opening weekend doubleheader.