MOOSEJAWTODAY.COM -- The Moose Jaw Mustangs couldn’t have scripted a better finish to the South Sask Lacrosse League U13 season.
With both local squads heading into the playoffs in Weyburn this past weekend as favourites after finishing one-two in the standings, the Mustangs Black would emerge with the league title after taking a 6-1 win over the Mustangs Red in the gold medal game.
It was a perfect weekend for the eventual champions, as they defeated the QCMBL Vipers 12-2, Weyburn Thrashers 4-3 and Mustangs Red 6-4 to advance to the gold medal game.
The only setbacks the Mustangs Red had on the weekend came at the hands of their Moose Jaw counterparts, as they defeated the Weyburn Securities Thrashers 6-4 in their opener and advanced to the championship game with a 5-4 win over the Weyburn Young’s Equipment Thrashers.
Mustangs Black 12, Vipers 2
The Mustangs turned in a consistent showing in their opener, scoring four goals in each period on their way to their double-digit win.
Their offence was as balanced as could be, too -- nine different players hit the scoresheet, led by Keegan Flanagan with three goals and five points. Thomas Porter had two goals and three points, while Bennett Dunlop had a goal and two assists.
Kayden Howes, Rhett Hazell, Joshua Arnold and Jaxton Duncan all had a goal and two points. Ethan Thedroff and Zackary Laic-Shepley each had single markers.
Oliver Gryschuk and Kieran Smith scored for QCMBL.
Mustangs Black 4, Young’s Equipment Thrashers 3
Flanagan scored all four goals four for Moose Jaw, including a two just over a minute apart late in the third period.
The contest was scoreless after the first, but Weyburn took a 3-2 lead out of the second, setting up Flanagan’s late-game heroics.
Porter had two assists.
Cooper Damman and Harrison Baumgartner each had a goal and assist for Weyburn, Cohen Baumgartner had their other goal.
Mustangs Red 6, Securities Thrashers 4
Moose Jaw took a 4-3 lead into the third period, but Weyburn would tie things up early in the frame, setting up some late game heroics -- Sterling Stewart scored the game-winner with 4:45 to play and Tatem Thue added an insurance marker in the final minute.
Thue finished with two goals and three points, Stewart Cooper MacNaughton and Vanden Chappel had the Mustangs Red other goals.
Simon Wawro scored two for Weyburn, Julie Lebrecque and Cruz Carter also scored.
Mustangs Black 6, Mustangs Red 4
It was a back-and-forth battle between the two Moose Jaw teams in their first meeting, but a four-goal outburst for Black would be the difference as Red led 1-0 after the first and the game was tied 2-2 through two.
Flanagan scored once and had three points, with Arnold scoring twice and single markers going to Porter, Dunlop and Thedroff.
Thue had a hat trick for Red, Brodie Plinkington also scored.
Mustangs Red 5, Young’s Equipment Thrashers 4
The Mustangs found themselves in an absolute barnburner in their semifinal, and won in the most dramatic of fashions.
Seaborg scored the tying goal on the power play with 12 seconds remaining in regulation, and Chappel then scored at 2:34 of overtime to send Moose Jaw to the final.
Thue finished with two goals and five points, including assists on both of the Mustangs final goals. Chappel capped the game with a pair of markers.
Judd Vennard potted three for Weyburn, Cohen Baumgartner also scored.
Mustangs Black 6, Mustangs Red 1
The Mustangs Black scored a pair in the first and led 4-1 through before tacking on two more in the third to clinch the championship.
Arnold and Flanagan each scored a pair for Black, Porter and Duncan had their other goals.
Thue had the lone goal for Red in the first period.
Both teams are now in action at the Sask Lacrosse provincial championships this weekend, be sure to visit www.sasklacrosse.net for the schedule and scores in the coming days.
