U11 Mustangs Red Put In Good Effort Despite Loss
“He’s also shorter than the net if he stands straight up. But he’s the biggest in the league when it comes to heart,” Moose Jaw Mustangs U11 Red head coach Laine Denoncourt said when asked about his goalie Benjamin “Big Ben” Morland being shorter than the net when he crouches down.
Morland is small, with his too large jersey carefully knotted up in the back for a custom fit, but he makes up for it in other ways.
He knows how to stand up against a shot.
Denoncourt was quick to add despite his size Morland was a good steady goaltender who fit well into the job.
The Mustangs had just come off a game they had played with intensity and a lot of effort but unfortunately lost 7 - 4 to the visiting Weyburn Credit Union Thrashers.
The loss moves Mustangs Red to a 1 - 3 - 1 season record in South Saskatchewan Lacrosse League play.
Benjamin “Big Ben” Morland (left) goalie for the Moose Jaw U11 Mustangs Red is encouraged by Nash Soper - MJ Independent photo
“It was all about fundamentals and effort,” the Coach said about the game.
“It’s the only thing you can coach out of that, the fundamentals and effort. What is there. All game long the kids were striving for it.”
Despite the loss he is still happy.
“The score does not reflect our effort out there and I’m really proud of the team working together,” Denoncourt said.
Benjamin Morland makes a save in the Mustangs’ net - MJ Independent photo
The main job for coaches at the introductory end of lacrosse “is to keep them loving the sport.”
He saw Wednesday’s game as a success.
“Even though we lost by a couple of goals they loved every minute of it. There was not one single frown on the bench the whole time.”
The Mustangs fielded 13 runners and a goalie for Wednesday’s game.
When it comes to goaltender Benjamin Morland he said the goalie is loving his first full season.
Mustangs’ Ethan Eisnor (left) pursues a Thrashers’ player - MJ Independent photo
Denoncourt said it’s “phenomenal” to coach the nine and ten year olds because he gets to be with the players helping through their grassroots stages and learning the fundamentals of the sport.
“It’s my favourite teaching them how to be competitive.”
Moose Jaw Mustangs’ Noah Racic (left) holds the ball slit and a Weyburn opponent at bay - MJ Independent photo
First Period
The Mustangs opened the scoring at 9:50 when Noah Racic scored assisted by Palmer Johnstone.
The Thrashers tied it up at 8:42 when Lucas Leippi scored an unassisted goal.
The Mustangs retook the lead at 4:55 on the powerplay when Nash Soper scored assisted by Huxlee Mack.
Second Period
Scoring wise the second period belonged to the Thrashers as they recorded four unanswered goals in the period.
Jake Wig scored an unassisted goal at 13:38 for the Thrashers to tie the game.
Jake Wig would give the Thrashers the lead at 12:38.
The Thrashers would go up by two goals when Addie Pare scored an unassisted goal at 6:52.
Jake Wig would get his hat trick goal for the Thrashers at 4:28.
Moose Jaw Mustangs’ Huxlee Mack (foreground) stays a couple of strides ahead of Weyburn’s Wilder Haider - MJ Independent photo
Third Period
Nash Soper would score a goal for Moose Jaw at 13:48 assisted by Palmer Johnstone.
Nash Sooner would get his hat trick on an unassisted goal at 9:35 for Moose Jaw.
Jake Wig recorded his fifth goal of the evening for Weyburn unassisted at 5:08 on the powerplay.
The Moose Jaw Mustangs U11 Red’s next game is Saturday June 6th at 10 am versus the Swift Current Rampage Rowdy at the Red Knight Arena.
