The Olds Stingers took advantage of a short bench for the Rockyview Silvertips on Friday, wearing down the visitors 11-7 in Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League action.
The Stingers took advantage of the Silvertips only having three substitutes available for the game, jumping out to a 4-1 lead after 20 minutes of play. Colby Freeborn opened the scoring for the Stingers at 7:04 of the first period while Lee McDonald put the home side up by two 1:17 later. Rodney Bundt replied for the Silvertips with just over four minutes left in the first, but goals by Bryce Sweetman and Eric Pouliotte staked the Stingers to their advantage.
In the second, the Silvertips narrowed the margin to one at 5-4, with two more goals by Bundt and a goal by Scott Butters. Jordan Clarke got the lone marker for the Stingers in the second.
A strong push by the Silvertips in the third gave them a one-goal cushion on goals by Blade Schullman and Butters, but the Stingers tied the game seven seconds after Butters' goal on Sweetman's second of the game. Three more goals by Laine Foshaug, Shae Layden and Sweetman's third of the contest put the Stingers up for good, while Butters scored his fourth of the game for the Silvertips. Travis Layden and Graham Hammer rounded out the scoring for the Stingers.
Despite the victory, Michael Bouma, the Stingers' head coach, said the boys could have played better.
“The boys were very sluggish coming out, but credit to the Silvertips, they played an excellent game with a short bench like that, they made the boys work for the win. The boys could have had a little more spunk,” he said.
Bouma said he thought the Silvertips taking the lead was a good thing because it made the Stingers pick up the pace.
“I think it doesn't hurt to let the other side have a lead now and again. It wakes up the boys, and they did come out and realize things were slipping and they picked up the pace, so was I … concerned, yes; not worried,” he said.
Earlier in the week on May 22, the Stingers travelled to Lacombe to play the Lacoka Locos. Despite a good effort, the Stingers lost 10-7.
“It wasn't bad, but that's the way it goes,” Bouma said.
"I think it doesn't hurt to let the other side have a lead now and again. It wakes up the boys."Michael Bouma, head coach, Olds Stingers
