The Peterborough Timbermen split their weekend with a loss to Oshawa and a win over Paris, as the Arena Lacrosse League season heads closer to playoffs.
Saturday was an embarrassing 25-10 loss to the Oshawa Outlaws in which the Timbermen rarely showed any flashes of the type of energetic and inspired play they’re capable of. The 14 runners tired quickly. Recently signed Trey Adams played the first half in goal, giving up 12 before giving way to Troi Benedict.
There were positives from the game, however; Aaron Woods scored a hat trick (six goals) and Joel Matthews had his best game since the season opener with eight points. All but two runners contributed with at least one point. The Timbermen also kept their penalty total down from previous games.
Sunday was a different story as the Timbermen won 12-11 in overtime. Shorthanded once again (14 runners plus two call-ups), the Timbermen led for three quarters before second-place Paris was able to pull into a tie. Paris pulled ahead but Peterborough tied it; Mitchell Geoffroy put the Timbermen back ahead until Kyle Dawson tied it once more with 3:18 left to play.
Inspired from his point-total Saturday, Matthews continued his strong offensive play and scored four goals including the game winner in overtime while adding six assists. Woods contributed four more goals for a total of 10 over the weekend. Marko Celic was brilliant in goal and earned 2nd star of the game.
Celic recounted a conversation he had with assistant captain Brett Coons before Sunday’s game. “He told me ‘so Marko, we only need you to do one thing, stand on your head…. the entire game. Seem OK?'” Celic laughed.
Shots aren’t generally tracked in the ALL but Celic estimates he made 45 to 50 saves.
After Sunday’s game he said the team was “tired, exhausted, happy, and elated,” but most of all, “back in the win column!”
The Timbermen return home to play their last two regular season contests on March 14 and March 21, both 3 p.m. starts at Millbrook Arena. They currently occupy third place in ALL standings, the highest spot they can finish, with 12 points. There are three teams right behind them with 10 points including the St. Catharines ShockWave, who visit this coming Saturday.
Saturday scoring for the Timbermen:
Aaron Woods (6-2)
Joel Matthews (2-6)
Brett Coons (1-1)
Parker Sands (1-0)
Mitchell Geoffroy (0-2)
Joe Wasson (0-2)
Justin Bragg (0-1)
Shane Francis (0-1)
Kyle McFadyen (0-1)
Zack Thompson (0-1)
Jeff Geddis (0-1)
Todd Chapman (0-1)
Sunday scoring:
Joel Matthews (4-6)
Aaron Woods (4-3)
Mitchell Geoffroy (2-4)
Zack Thompson (1-4)
Shane Francis (1-0)
Justin Bragg (0-2)
Brett Coons (0-1)
Todd Chapman (0-1)
