The Sarnia
Legionnaires lost a
hockey game Thursday
that they probably
should have won.
Coach Dan Rose's
club dropped a 5-4
decision to the
LaSalle Vipers in
the opener of their
Western Jr. 'B'
semi-final series
with the LaSalle
Vipers.
The Legionnaires
outshot the visitors
39-34 but were
beaten on a number
of glorious
opportunities by
goalie Paolo
Battisti.
"Their goaltender
made some awesome
saves, Sarnia head
coach Dan Rose said
afterward.
Included among his
stops was a great
glove grab on a Ryan
Vendramin breakaway.
Rose added, It was
an exciting game. It
was playoff hockey.
That's what we
signed on for. Now
we have to win a
game in their barn.
Sarnia was also
hampered by a couple
of needless,
undisciplined
penalties in the
third period. One of
them came with the
Legionnaires
enjoying a powerplay
and pressing hard
for the equalizer.
Legionnaires had
several close
opportunities in the
first period. This
puck inched towards
the line but it was
swept out.
Another goal went in
the net but called
off by ref and a
third appeared to go
in as the red light
came on and the
horns blaring but
the players kept on
playing.
#nolucktonight
After many close
calls in the first
period Davis Boyer
scores first
Legionnaires goal of
the game.
LaSalle's Daniel
Beaudoin and
Sarnia's Davis Boyer
traded first period
goals to send the
teams into the first
intermission
deadlocked at 1-1.
Ryan Trottier and
Cody Trowell set up
the home team's
goal, which was
Boyer's seventh of
the post season.
Captain Nathan Mater
got the only tally
of the middle stanza
to give the
Legionnaires the
lead heading into
the final 20 minutes
of action. Assists
went to Riley
Babkirk and Jay
Clarke.
But the Legionnaires
allowed three goals
in less than three
minutes early in the
third to fall behind
by a pair. Mark
Manchurek, Chris
Pignanelli and
Brendan Harrogate
were the marksmen
for the Vipers.
Brandon Layman got
Sarnia back in the
contest just past
the mid-point of the
period when he stole
a puck in the
LaSalle end, charged
the net and
backhanded home the
rubber. The play was
unassisted.
LaSalle's Nathan
Veres got the winner
not long after that,
putting the visitors
ahead by two once
again.
Cameron Clarke was
credited with a goal
in the final minute
of play for Sarnia.
Davis Boyer picked
up an assist on the
play.
The Legionnaires
were 2-for-4 with
the man advantage
while LaSalle was
0-for-4.
It was a Goaltender
show at both ends as
Andrew Masters made
many outstanding
saves despite the
loss.
In total Masters
made 31 saves.
Game two will be
held in Lasalle on
Saturday March 14 at
7:30 pm. Next
home game for the
Legionnaires is on
Sunday March 15,
puck drops at 7:10
pm.
