Westock’s bantam Rock lacrosse team didn’t post a win in their opening weekend or play, but did manage to net one point.
Playing host to the Sherwood Park Titans at the Westlock Rotary Spirit Centre on May 3, the Rock dropped their first Greater Edmonton Lacrosse Council game of the season 11-2. The squad managed to finish their weekend with a 5-5 tie versus Grand Prairie on Sunday.
For coach Shane Boulerice, it was a taste of what the team of beginners should be ready for as the season progresses.
“We’re in for a tough year,” he said, explaining he and the players are learning the sport together this year.
Saturday’s game didn’t start too poorly for the Rock. Although they found themselves down 2-0 after only 3:02 had ticked off the clock, Ryan Conquergood’s goal pulled them to within 2-1 at the 6:57 mark of the first period.
Unfortunately, that’s as close as the Rock would get, as the Titans scored the next eight goals to jump out to a 10-1 lead.
Only 1:56 into the third period, Cole Perkins scored the Rock’s second goal of the game to make it 10-2. The Titans scored once more half way through the frame to come away with the 11-2 win.
Despite the result, Boulerice said there were some positives to come out of the game, including the play of goalie Owen Glover.
“He played well,” he said. “We still need to work on better ball movement, but he kept the score closer.”
As the season progresses, Boulerice said because the team consists of beginners, the players will need to work on their passing and catching. The fact the players are new to the sport puts the Rock at a disadvantage, he said, because the other teams have their basics down and are now working on their systems and set plays.
He plans to work on systems as well, he said, as well as learning to play with a shot clock.
The Rock are back at home this coming weekend when they face the Blues and Rams on Saturday.
