Same weather, similar result, but now it’s Burnaby or bust.
Oceanside’s U12 Buccaneers came up on the short end of a 10-6 final to the Mid Island Lightning in their Tier 2 Island Lacrosse Championship game, which was also held Feb. 12 under horrible conditions down in Victoria’s UVic turf fields.
The two teams are now 3-3 head to head this year — both teams went into the game having earned a berth in the provincial championships slated for Feb. 24-27 on the artificial turf fields at Burnaby Lake Sports Complex.
“It was our first game in over two months as we had a bye through to the finals,” said U12 ‘Bucs coach John Shafi.
The Buccaneers finished top of the heap in their Tier 2 standings to capture the league title, but “we were flat footed and not really playing hard in the first quarter (of the Island final).”
Mid Island led 3-1 at the end of the first and took a 4-2 lead into the half and were up 7-4 after three.
“Overall, once we woke up our athletes put out a good effort in very adverse conditions,” said Shafi.
Daniel Shworan bagged two goals for the ‘Bucs, Neil Shafi struck for two and had two assists; Kieran Bowles had a goal and an assist and Michael Stewart scored as well. Dawson Millen bulged the twine right at the final whistle but it didn’t count.
If losing the Island final stung, the young ‘Bucs look to have healed nicely and were in great spirits Sunday with their sights set on playing in the provincials
Coach Shafi said he’s proud of the squad, which finished first in the regular season standings and finished second on the rock.
Shafi has been helped by assistant coach Bryce Bell, team manager Heather Martin and assistant coaches Cam Miller and Jake Wall, two local young former players.