Spartans come up big

By Bill Potrecz, The Standard

Monday, May 30, 2016 1:23:12 EDT PM

 

The St. Catharines Spartans came up with their best effort of the season at the most opportune time.

The Spartans edged the Six Nations Rebels 8-7 in Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B action at Merritton Arena Sunday.
“There is no way to describe how big that win was,” Spartans coach Rob McKibbon said. “We struggled so much in the early going so it was a must win.”
The win improved the Spartans record to 5-7 and keeps them in the hunt for a post-season spot.
The Rebels still lead the South West Division with a 10-3 record.
McKibbon said the Spartans came into the game and far less than 100 per cent.
“We had some guys who were hurt and others were feeling sick, McKibbon said. “I don’t know if they had the flu or what, but everybody showed up and played.
“I’m really proud of the boys.”
McKibbon is hopeful the team can use the effort as a springboard to finish the season strong.
“That’s the way we’re thinking,” he said. “We feel we lost three games in the early going we feel we should have had. We lost a couple of games by one goal and another by two goals to Hamilton and we had some issues with guys out of the lineup.
“Now we feel we like we have everybody back and when we have all of our guys and they’re all buying in, nothing can stop us now.”
With eight games remaining in the regular season, the Spartans need to avoid a long losing streak or risk missing the playoffs.
“Last year we finished 10-10 and we finished seventh so we know we have to at least get to 10-10,” McKibbon said.
Cree Blakely paced the Spartans with three goals while Elliott McKibbon, Kealan Pilon, Bryan Hancock, Blake Halliday and Andre Sommerville added singles.
David Herkimer made 47 saves in goal.
The Spartans host the Niagara-on-the-Lake Thunderwolves Tuesday at Merritton at 8 p.m.
The Thunderwolves, 9-3, are coming off an 11-9 win over Welland.