Trailing 2-1 after the opening period of play, but backstopped by a stellar performance from goaltender Kiaus Lalonde, the Roughnecks would score one goal in each of the final two periods, posting a 3-2 win over the Stealth in GSLA (Greater Sudbury Lacrosse Association) Peewee action Wednesday night in Copper Cliff.
The Stealth would get on the board just 3:08 into the contest as Charlie Lisk did a nice job of stripping his man of the ball, allowing him to spin in all alone to open the scoring. The Roughnecks got that one back midway through the frame as Jack Gouchie spotted Alek Duguay with a lovely lead pass, the latter drilling home the equalizer.
The Stealth were back at it before the end of the period, as Andrew Whitehouse fired the ball the length of the floor, capitalizing on a bad change by their opponents, as Brandon Roney was left unattended in front of Lalonde, restoring the one goal lead.
Special teams accounted for the only goal of the second stanza when Caleb Giroux buried a well-placed bounce shot, off the floor, that skipped just past netminder Mason Robertson.
The 2-2 stalemate remained intact until the 6:21 mark of the third, as Duguay fought off a stick to the head and shoulder that would have resulted in a penalty, weaving his way to the net for his second goal of the game.
From there, it was up to Lalonde, who turned aside Roney from point blank range and made a big stop on a short-handed threat from Whitehouse late in the game. Despite playing in just his first season of lacrosse and ranking among the shorter players on his team, Giroux found himself involved throughout the contest, including on his game-tying goal.
"I saw the goalie on one side, and there were people blocking me, so I looked where the empty spots were," he said. "The goalie was on one side and there was an empty spot on the other side, so I'm like, why not just try and shoot there. I tried and it went top corner. The coach always says to try and bounce it on the floor to try and trick the goalie."
A highly articulate 11-year-old, Giroux will be appearing in a francophone television series this fall, scheduled to air on TFO (Télévision française de l'Ontario).
Surprisingly, perhaps, because of his stature, Giroux also enjoys the physical element that lacrosse can bring.
"I like that you get to push people," he said with a smile. "You can push them anywhere, but you can't hit the neck or the head, and you can't trip them. I try and hit more on the elbows, because of how small I am."
Remaining league action on Wednesday would see the Stealth double the Roughnecks 6-3 in bantam division play. Teams are back at it on Monday, with matchups set for the Cambrian and Coniston (Toe Blake) arenas.
