WARRIOR POWER PLAY WALTZES TO WIN
by thistles forever
PORT WHITBY - Whitby overcame a sluggish beginning, then took advantage of Orillia's lack of discipline to defeat the Kings 9-6. The home team also had to solve a red hot Mike Miron and gradually wore him down. Jeff Zywicki was the other Orillia standout. He tore the Warriors apart for a period and a bit, however Whitby's defence adjusted and silenced him over the latter part of the game.
The opening seven minutes were simply horrible for the home side. They came out flat and dug themselves a quick 3-0 hole. Their first power play goal brought them to life and they were outstanding the rest of the way. The first period was not outstanding. It was frantic and action packed but it was mean spirited lacrosse. Both these teams had a real hate on for each other, making things too passionate for everyone's own good. Orillia won the period 4-2.
Zywicki scored off the draw to make it 5-2. That was all she wrote for the Kings. The turning point in this game was that Whitby cleaned up it's act and played lacrosse the rest of the night. Seven consecutive goals would follow, many of them power play markers. The Kings could not stay out of the box. Stupid plays, such as a Josh Colley slashing penalty, continually put them in a hole. The play of Miron was out of this world. He was peppered with shots yet held his ground admirably. It was because of him that Orillia stayed within one, then two goals well into the third period.
Luke Wiles may be the bomb most of the time but last night he bombed out! He scored once but had numerous other chances he simply could not finish. At one point in the second period he faked Scott Wylie out of his jock strap, yet with the goalie on his bottom and the top of the net open Wiles fired where the ball could be saved and Wylie robbed him.
Wiles biggest contribution to the game finished his team's chances. He sparked a two fight mini-brawl by crosschecking Brett Pakosta in the back of the head. Must point this out...Whitby needs a new trainer. While Pakosta lay sprawled out on the floor the Warrior trainer was watching the fights. Even when he finally went to Pakosta it was, take one step, glance back at the fights, take another step...and so on. Simply disgraceful!
The home team took advantage of the extra major penalty to Wiles and put the game away. The Thompsons teamed up very late to make the final a more respectable 9-6 score.
Credit to the Warriors for a great 53 minute effort. But can this team play a full 60 minutes for one game, let alone a seven game series? That is what will determine how far Whitby advances towards the Minto Cup. A.J. Shannon was excellent. Scott Wylie very shakey the first half of the contest but he preserved the win with some brilliant saves when the outcome was still in doubt in the third period. Mike Hamilton missed the game injured.
Orillia got as good a goaltending display they can ever hope to get. Still they wasted it as a handful of players showed no composure at all. This should have been a King victory but they gave it away. So the equation is simple now. To have any chance, the Orillia players must stick to playing lacrosse. Or they can continue to play dirty for two more games.
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