For a matter of seconds the Okotoks Marauders had painted the perfect picture.
Rookie defender Luke Welton registered a hat-trick in his debut with his hometown Marauders as they grinded out a 6-5 triumph in overtime over the Edmonton Warriors Sunday.
Not so fast, the goal was called back after lengthy celebrations on a shot-clock violation and the season opening Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League Jr. B Tier II tilt ended in a 5-5 draw at the Murray Arena.
“To end like that with a goal getting called back that’s always tough,” said Marauders head coach Don Haynes. “They said the shot-clock ran out or that it was reset before it should have been. They made the call and you’ve just got to deal with it.
“Overall we played pretty sloppy ball and we’ve got to get everything together.”
The defensive battle was not without offensive opportunity.
Okotoks played virtually the entire first-period on the powerplay with the rough and tumble Warriors crossing the line with a number of preventable penalties.
The hosts opened the scoring on somewhat of a broken play at even strength as speedster Cody Bomersine snuck in a shot from traffic. Against the run of play Edmonton secured a 1-1 draw with Ryan Gingras potting the first of two in the contest with 30 seconds left in the frame.
After Taylor Haince gave the Marauders back the lead they would quickly double it on the penalty kill as rookies Turner Dirk and Welton connected on the odd-man rush.
Edmonton struck back with three unanswered earning its first lead of the game with 14 minutes left in regulation.
Rookie Tyson Loewen evened it back up 4-4 on a two-on-one break before the Warriors regained the lead on a five-minute powerplay through Riley Ewashko with just 7:45 left.
Welton came up with the key equalizer just 32 seconds later, sending the game to overtime and setting up the would be game-winner in the extra session.
“I just thought we had to put in the extra effort and can’t let any opportunity go to waste,” Welton said. “Overtime, you’ve got to get that big goal. That was quite disappointing.”
Okotoks’ effort on the defensive end was anything but.
“We played positionally very well,” said Welton, a Grade 11 student at Holy Trinity Academy. “And just working hard. Everybody was working their butts off all game and that was good to see.”
Jordan Kelman started for the Marauders in goal allowing just one goal in the opening frame before being relieved after taking a shot in the head. Jared Ferris provided stellar relief in holding the visitors to just four through two periods and the 10-minute overtime session.
“We’ve got a great defence, we’ve got a lot of great athletes back there moving the ball up the floor,” Haynes said. “And the goaltending was really good.”
Okotoks was left a little wanting on the other end of the floor.
The powerplay and offensive possessions didn’t produce the way they’re accustomed to in the low-scoring affair.
“We were getting shots we were just hitting the goalie in his stick, in his logo,” the coach added. “I don’t think it was a lack of getting shots or even quality shots it was just where we were putting them.”
The Marauders get back on the floor for another home date with the Calgary Chill, fourth-place finishers at the 2016 Founders Cup, on May 4. Okotoks completes the week in another home contest with the Calgary Shamrocks on May 7 at 3 p.m.
