U13 Mustangs Win Closely Fought Game
By Robert Thomas
Three big breaks and goals led the Moose Jaw U13 Mustangs to a 3 - 1 victory over the visiting Weyburn Young’s Equipment Thrashers on Thursday evening in South Saskatchewan Lacrosse League action.
The Mustangs’ were led by two goals by rookie lacrosse player Zachariah Thompson.
After the Thrashers Gabe Sharpe scored on a long shot in a first period powerplay the momentum slightly to Weyburn.
Moose Jaw’s goalie had to look sharp as the Thrashers pushed for the net.
Zachariah Thompson scores his first of two goals for the Mustangs - MJ Independent photo
Thompson showed his speed and conditioning as he picked up the ball on the right wing out ran his opponents on an arc and then scored unassisted from the left point. Time of the goal was 5:06 of the second period.
A rush straight down the center led to what was the game winning goal by the Mustangs’ Indie Bellefuille assisted Emerson Hlushko. Time of the goal was 7:59 of the third period.
A late penalty with 3:05 left in the game put a lot of pressure on the Mustangs.
The Mustangs defence held with the Thrashers calling a time with less than 30 seconds left in the game.
The Thrashers pressured but the Mustangs’ knocked the ball loose.
Thompson managed to come up with the loose ball and got around the Thrashers’ defence. He ran down the left wing the entire length of the floor cut in front of the Thrashers’ goal and scored the insurance marker with eight seconds left in the game.
Mustangs’ Kenna Williams (left) heads down floor as the Thrashers’ Conner Pocha goes airborne after bouncing off her while attempting a bodycheck - MJ Independent photo
“I would say it was a pretty intense game. The matchup was pretty even. We haven’t seen these guys all year…so we really weren’t sure what to expect,” assistant coach Kim Oonincx said.
“We knew they would come out hard and they did,” she daid, adding “we held our own and it was intense right to the end.”
Defence was a key factor for the Mustangs.
“We have a strong defence and the kids for sure held their own.”
With so much of the team being first year players there was a lot of work at the start of the season on defence.
“There was a lot of work about where you go to protect your house.”
A battle for a loose ball - MJ Independent photo
About Zachariah Thompson’s play Oonincx described him as “one of a kind.”
She said it was Thompson’s first ever year of lacrosse and he has shone.
“He’s phenomenal. He is an athlete thru and thru. He is the fastest kid I’ve ever seen. He has no quit. He is definitely making a name for himself. I’m pretty sure the other teams are taking notes,” she said.
A Weyburn player (far right) tries to go around Moose Jaw’s defence - MJ Independent photo
“On defence he pressures the ball so hard and when he gets it he’s gone.”
Team wise everyone came together and had a great game.
“Our team is a well rounded team. We don’t have one or two specie players that stand out. They work really well together. And I think that’s why we’ve been so successful,” she said.
With the victory the U13 Mustangs sit in first place with a 7 - 1 record.
The Mustangs’ Emerson Hlushko - MJ Independent photo
The Mustangs next game is Sunday June 7th at 11:30 am in Weyburn versus the Thrashers
