Snipers keep up winning ways with road victory in Oshawa

Six Nations Snipers once again put on a dominating display. For almost three quarters. In the end, the Snipers, who held a nine-goal advantage in the third quarter, were able to hold on and defeat the host Oshawa Outlaws in an Arena Lacrosse League match held on Saturday.

Travis Longboat led the Snipers’ offence, racking up 10 points (five goals and five assists), in the contest staged at Children’s Arena in Oshawa. Six Nations led 11-5 at halftime. The Snipers had then built up their biggest lead of the contest, 16-7 midway through the third quarter.

“Honestly we just kind of slowed down a little bit,” said Snipers’ forward Jordan Goddard, who netted his first ALL hat trick. “We didn’t keep the gas on the pedal and we let them get back into it. We kind of got into our own heads. We just had to battle through that and come out with the W.” 

Goddard is in his second ALL season. Obviously, he was thrilled to be able to have his first three- goal game in the circuit.

“It feels good,” he said of his hat trick. “We were moving the ball out. We were short a couple of guys and guys just need to step up when they need to.”

Snipers’ head coach Darcy Powless also took notice of Goddard’s efforts.

“That was probably the best game he’s played this year,” he said. Goddard said he’s usually not one to be seeking the limelight. “I just go out there every game and just give it the best I can, set hard picks and get all my teammates involved,” he said. “I’m really just a team guy. I just want to get the two points and go home.” 

For a few moments in the final quarter, it looked like the Outlaws just might pull off a miraculous rally. They cut the deficit to three on a couple of occasions but couldn’t get closer than that. 

“It’s hard to keep up the momentum when things are going so good,” said Jamie Downie, who plays defence for the Six Nations squad. “But we dug deep at the end. It’s good to pull out the W.” 

The Snipers were missing some key offensive weapons, notably Johnny Powless and Wes Whitlow. 

“We’ve got such a deep roster that I think we can pull guys in and out at will,” Downie said. “We’ve got a crazy transition, we’ve got a crazy offence.” Downie also praised goalie Dylan Sprentz, who made some key saves in the final quarter to prevent Oshawa from making the score even closer. 

Though pleased with the victory, Darcy Powless was not entirely thrilled his charges seemed to play two different games within the one. 

“We started out well,” he said. “We had high intensity to get that big lead. But we let up. Games like that are tough to stay involved. Their guys slow it down and it slows our guys down. We just dropped down and played at their level whereas if we had played at our speed, kept playing our game, that game wouldn’t even have been in question to be that close.” 

With the victory, the Snipers’ record improved to 7-2, good for top spot in their seven-team league. Oshawa’s mark fell to 4-5. 

Tye Argent and Vern Hill both also scored hat trick for the Snipers. Justin Martin, Scott Del Zotto, Brent Longboat and Rodd Squire added singles. 

The Snipers’ next game is next Sunday (March 27). The Peterborough Timbermen will provide the opposition for that match, which has a 4 p.m. opening faceoff at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Hagersville.