Oceanside’s U14 Buccaneers field lacrosse team upped their Tier 2 regular season record to 6-0 in Saanich with a two-game dismantling of Pac Rim.
On Nov. 19, the upstart, second-year squad rumbled to 9-2, 9-3 wins.
The team of 12-14 year olds, says their coach Tim Clermont, “put together their best team performance of the season with great ball control, passing, and solid defence.”
Leading the charge with their best games of the season were Steven Martin (3 goals) and Neil Shafi (2 goals), “who set up some great give-and-goes which resulted in five goals between them.”
Clermont also had extra props for first-year player Eric Thompson for his “gritty play and beauty passes” to leading scorer Hunter Gackstatter, who counted for four goals in game one and three more in game two.
Jory Clermont chipped in with four goals and five goal posts “so was an offensive factor in both games,” said Clermont, adding that along with big stick Johnnie Grais, “they dominated faceoffs.”
Liam Lowrey bulged the twine for two goals.
“We started slow in game two and just before half the game was close at 4-3, but our boys kicked in to high gear for the second half with five unanswered goals.”
The U14 Bucs now sit in first place — one point up on Mid Island in their league.
Who finishes on top will come down to a two-game showdown up at Springwood Park on December 4.
Games go at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Win both games and the hometown ‘Bucs punch their ticket to the provincials in Victoria on Feb. 17-18.
Closer to home, Clermont said his team will likely play Mid-Island again to determine the Island Champion.
“If we can gel as a team and improve on last week’s performance we will have a real shot at the Island banner,” he explained.
“Not bad for a second year field squad.”
sports@pqbnews.com