They kept it respectable, but in the end the Estevan Tarpon Energy Big Dogs failed to beat either of the top teams they hosted in Prairie Gold Lacrosse League action on the weekend.
On Saturday, the Big Dogs (2-3) were tied with the Prince Albert Predators (4-1-1) after two periods, but lost 11-8.
On Sunday, the club stayed within striking distance after overcoming a massive early hole in an eventual 18-12 loss to the Regina Riot.
Against the Riot, the Big Dogs found themselves trailing 7-2 after the first period but went goal for goal with the visitors after that.
Rhett Handley and Dylan Smith each scored four times for Estevan, with Marshall Holzer and Ty Currie adding two apiece.
Handley was sprung on a breakaway and scored to tie the game 1-1 at the three-minute mark, but the Riot scored six of the next seven goals to take control of the game after one.
Holzer had the home side's other goal in the frame, taking a centring pass from Smith in the corner. Each team scored four goals in the second period. After a pair by the Riot made it 9-2, Handley countered with two of his own in a span of two minutes.
Smith scored later on a shot from the corner and Currie lit the lamp on a shorthanded breakaway late in the period.
Handley scored his fourth of the night on a breakaway five minutes into the third, but the Riot had four of the first five goals in the stanza.
The Big Dogs stormed back though, firing five of the next seven goals.
Smith bulged the twine at 7:58 on a shot off the rush, completed a hat trick three minutes later after taking a pass in all alone, and scored his fourth at 11:23 after cutting in from the left side.
Currie added his second goal 77 seconds after that on a break down the right side, and Holzer closed out the Big Dogs' scoring at 13:43 on a long-range shot.
On Saturday, the Big Dogs and Predators were tied 7-7 after two periods, but Prince Albert would pull away in the third.
The Big Dogs' next action comes Friday when they visit the Regina Rifles.
