It doesn't get any better...
BRAMPTON -- Hold on to your hats sports fans! The premier event of the box lacrosse world and the most entertaining spectator sporting event in Canada, The Mann Cup of 2002 has provided a spellbinding show through its first three matches and it's still gearing up! By all indications, there are three or four more thrillers to look forward to.
The crowd presence has grown, approximately doubling to 3000 or so and will likely press the capacity of the icy cold Brampton Centre for Sports and Entertainment before this one's over. There is simply no better entertainment value around. It's worth the price of admission alone just to witness the first intermissions' Frisbee Free-for-all as the rugrats grow increasingly lawless and loveable 'Uncle Mike' loses his marbles!
The Victoria Shamrocks of the WLA and the OLA's Brampton Excelsiors have proved beyond doubt why they're here. Both teams are rich with skill and discipline, feature brilliant defense and solid netminding.
The Excelsiors hold a fortunate 2-games-to-1 lead after match three in which the Shamrocks appeared solidly in control until the maroon-and-gold constructed a thrilling third-period comeback built of perseverance and selflessness - and - some uncanny luck in the fluke-goals department.
In last year's championship in Vancouver, both teams, the Excelsiors and eventual champion Coquitlam Adanacs exhibited chronic schizophrenia, seeming omnipotent - or dysfunctional - for periods or games at a time. Full-tilt competitive action was extremely rare. This year, the reverse is true.
The first game saw dynamite action through the first forty minutes before the Shamrocks' defense stopped rocking and started shamming. The E's poured in an alarming seven goals to walk away with the game. Let's chalk that incident up to jet lag. I don't expect that kind of finish again in this series. Both teams are too deep in maturity and work ethic to give any further games away.
The second contest began marvelously. Thirty minutes of intense action as both squads exhibited mastery in their own zones. The Shamrocks held a hard-fought 4-3 lead at the half-way point when the game unofficially ended, not because either squad went sour but because the referees assassinated it.
Hoards of players were boxed for looking at each other the wrong way as the refs endeavored to exert control over the game. The fluid rhythm of the contest was irreparably squashed. Perhaps this was necessary. I didn't think so. Victoria earned the 7-5 victory.
Game 3 - Lacrosse at its best. As good as any NLL game. The 'Rocks defense was astounding and the E's had to get daring and creative to eventually level the score in the final 2 minutes after interim deficits of 4-2 and 7-4. This match saw some brilliant individual efforts. Victoria's Tyson Leies more than made up for designated shooter Ted Dowling's absence. Johnny Tavares and his magic hands finally came out of hiding.
Some unofficial stats through 3 games - by period:
Scoring:
Victoria: 11 / 9 / 5 / 2 - 27
Brampton: 6 / 10 / 12 / 3 - 31
Shots:
Victoria: 36 / 46 / 42 / 5 - 129
Brampton: 45 / 52 / 37 / 6 - 140
Loose balls:
Victoria: 45 / 40 / 42 / 9 - 136
Brampton: 51 / 54 / 43 / 7 - 155
Some highlights from all three games to follow in the next report.
Game 4 Saturday. Game 5 Monday. A game 6 is very likely. Folks, get your tickets. You don't wanna miss this. It doesn't get any better.
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