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Marauders earn Saskatchewan split

A game of inches indeed. The Okotoks Marauders were a post away from leaving Saskatchewan without a loss from a two-game set with the SWAT instead settling for the split from the Paris of the Prairies in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Jr.

A game of inches indeed.

The Okotoks Marauders were a post away from leaving Saskatchewan without a loss from a two-game set with the SWAT instead settling for the split from the Paris of the Prairies in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Jr. B Tier I action over the weekend.

“We wanted to get two, but a split in two close games from a couple battles,” said Marauders head coach Don Haynes. “It was a good road trip, you get a lot of camaraderie on these trips.”

Being stuck on a bus for the over 1,200 km round-trip has a way of bringing teammates together.

There were no signs of bus legs in the opener of the two-game set as the Marauders held off the hosts from Saskatoon for a 9-8 triumph on Saturday with rookie Carson McKenzie backstopping the team to the victory in goal.

Turnabout was fair play in the back end of the set as Saskatchewan hung on for a 6-5 win by the narrowest of margins in the final minute.

“We pulled the goalie with a minute left and drew up a six-man play,” Haynes said. “Everything worked out, we just hit the post or we would have tied that one.”

Already at the quarter mark in the regular season, the Marauders sit fourth in the South Division with a record of 2-2-1.

“It’s a pretty tight league and anybody can win on any given day,” Haynes said. “You’ve just got to bear down.”

With the exception of a lopsided defeat to the Calgary Shamrocks, the Marauders have held opposition to nine goals or less in every game this season.

“Our defence is probably the strongest thing and our goaltending is next,” the coach added. “I preach to the boys the goals should be between six or eight against and then 10 to 14 in goals for.”

The offence, a strength for the squad last season, has been a little slower out of the gate which can often times be the case. Powerplay improvements are a big area of focus for the team at the quarter pole.

“We haven’t really been getting it done on the offensive side of things,” Haynes said. “But with a lot of new guys that’s the last thing to come. It takes a lot of chemistry on the O side of the ball.

“Our powerplay should be running at the very least 30 per cent and we would like to see it up around 50 in lacrosse. We’ve shuffled around personnel on that and it’s always a work in progress.”

The Marauders get back to familiar surroundings this week when they take on the Rockyview Silvertips on May 18. The opening face-off is 8 p.m. at the Murray Arena.

“With them being lower in the standings we’ve got to win,” Haynes said.

For more information go to rockymountainlax.com


Remy Greer

About the Author: Remy Greer

Remy Greer is the assistant editor and sports reporter for westernwheel.ca and the Western Wheel newspaper. For story tips contact [email protected]
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