The Estevan Tarpon Energy Big Dogs took it on the chin over the weekend, as a pair of losses dropped them to a 1-3 record in the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League.
The junior club took a 25-7 walloping against the Regina Rifles on Saturday in the provincial capital. In their home opener the next day, they fell 18-11 to the Saskatoon Steelers.
In their home opener, played at Affinity Place, the Big Dogs were tied after the first period and trailed by three goals after the second, but fell further behind in the final frame.
"We gave up a couple of quick goals to start the third period, as we did in the second, and we got down by too many goals to come back.
We gave up some breakaways they were able to bury," said Big Dogs head coach Evan Handley.
Regular starting goalie Thomas Davis was not available for the game and that proved to be a key factor in the loss, as Bobby Krahn took the net despite having no experience as a goaltender.
The Big Dogs had defeated the Steelers 11-8 in Saskatoon on May 4, and Handley said the change in the crease was the biggest difference between the two outcomes.
"We weren't able to make the saves that we got the week before. I can't put any blame at all on Bobby. He did a great job stepping in there and volunteering to do it."
Reigning PGLL most valuable player Rhett Handley led the way for the Big Dogs, scoring six goals and an assist.
Spencer Strand (2), Cole MacCuish, Mark Moriarty and Tanner Froese also scored. Marshall Holzer chipped in four assists, while Froese and Moriarty had two helpers each.
"Rhett played great. He's had a really good year. Last year he played well, but this year he's even better than he was last year. He's got some good players on the floor with him in Froese and (Ty) Currie. Our main offensive guys are playing really good, giving everyone a chance to get involved and score."
Still, Handley said there were "too many chances we couldn't bury" on Sunday.
Dylan Smith, the team's second-leading scorer last year, has not yet returned from his hockey season in Oswego, N.Y., but Handley said he would likely be back for the team's next game on May 24, when they host the Regina Rifles.
Detailed results from Saturday's loss to the powerhouse Rifles were not available at press time.
"They've got a great team, with pretty much everybody they had last year back," said Handley. "We took a lot of penalties. The refs weren't great. There were some flat out bad calls. But we took some selfish penalties and misconducts. We were short and only had 12 runners."
