Snipers clinch first place with lopsided victory over Peterborough

Despite having two regular season contests remaining, the Six Nations Snipers have already clinched first place in their league standings. The Snipers guaranteed themselves top billing and an opening-round playoff bye by thumping the visiting Peterborough Timbermen 18-7 in an Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) contest held Sunday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) in Hagersville. 

With the victory the Six Nations club improved its record to 8-2. Even if they were to lose their final two regular season outings the Snipers would end up with an 8-4 mark. The only other squad in the seven-team league that could finish with an 8-4 record is the Whitby Steelhawks who are currently sporting a mark of 7-4. But the Snipers defeated the Steelhawks in both of their regular season encounters, meaning Six Nations would be awarded first place if the scenario materialized with both teams ended up with identical records.

“We didn’t really worry about where we’d be on the leaderboard,” said Snipers’ goalie Dusty Hill, adding it will be a benefit though to receive a first-round, post-season bye. Hill doesn’t believe his teammates will have lackadaisical attitudes in their remaining regular season outings. “We’re just going to hammer away at what’s being going good and work on what hasn’t,” he said.

The Snipers took control of the match by scoring the only five goals of the opening quarter. “That was definitely a point of comfort,” Hill said. The Timbermen did manage to outscore Six Nations 6-5 in the second quarter, giving the Snipers a 10-6 halftime lead.

Six Nations managed to keep the Timbermen off the scoreboard in the third quarter and yielded just one goal in the final quarter. Hill praised Snipers’ defensive coach Vince Longboat and players in front of him.

“Vince and the defence took their game to a new level,” Hill said. Though he allowed just seven goals in the match, Hill felt he struggled, especially in the opening half. “Everything was off,” he said, adding it was difficult for him to pick up the ball but the club’s defence bailed him out time after time.

While the Snipers were off on Saturday, the Timbermen played a home match Saturday evening before having to travel for Sunday’s tilt. But Hill said his squad didn’t show up expecting to register a convincing victory. “We don’t try to take anybody lightly,” he said.

“You could just as easily have said we wouldn’t have been ready because we didn’t play on Saturday.”

Jeremy Bombery was the top point-getter for the Snipers racking up seven points, including three goals. Kahn General also netted a hat trick for Six Nations while Johnny Powless, Ross Hill and Tye Argent scored two goals apiece. Also scoring for the Snipers were Justin Martin, Scott Del Zotto, Rodd Squire, Daylen Hill, Kevin Owen Hill and Cheyton King.

Six Nations will play its final two regular season games this coming weekend. For starters, the Snipers will square off against the Toronto Monarchs on Saturday (April 2) in a match that will be staged at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville. The opening faceoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Six Nations will then host the St. Catharines Shockwave on Sunday (Apr. 3). That match, which will be at the ILA, is set for 4 p.m.