The Harris Oilfield Construction Voltz played good enough to defeat their southeastern rivals in the first round of the South Sask Lacrosse League playoffs.
The peewee teams battled it out at Affinity Place Monday night with the Voltz coming out on top 5-4 over the Weyburn Thrashers 1 team.
The Voltz went down 2-1 after the first period but stormed back with the next four goals, only to give up the last two and hang on for the win. Chase Foord and Tye Farnsworth scored a pair of goals each in the win.
“They both played really well and the team played well overall, but we shouldn’t have let them back in the game,” said Voltz head coach Trevor McNabb. “We should have come out and played better… you can tell that we haven’t been on the surface for about a week.”
The Voltz’ other goal in the game was scored by Ryder Davidson.
The Voltz will play the Moose Jaw Mustangs at Moose Jaw Wednesday night in the semifinal. The leadership and on field presence of scorers like captain Foord, Farnsworth and Logan Lang will be important.
“You hope everyone steps up,” McNabb said. “You look at our stats and our team play, you look at Corby (Lemcke), you’ve got lots of kids who can do the job. It just depends on who wants it and who’s going to take ownership of the team. We’ve got captains and we’ve got other kids that are learning from them.
If they defeat the top-ranked Mustangs, the Voltz will play in a gold medal game Friday and a loss will send them to the bronze medal game, also on Friday. Two Swift Current Rampage teams are playing each other in the other semifinal.
“We’ve only got two days before the game so I’m hoping to get the kids out,” McNabb said. “More of it though is mental, for these kids. They know they can do it. Moose Jaw are going to be tough.”
Either way, the Voltz are going to be at provincials on the July 7-8 weekend as hosts.
“At the practice, we focus on what we need to do,” said McNabb. “The playoffs are one level and the provincials are going to be the next level. They’re the best of the best. We’ve got to step up our game or we will not represent Estevan very well.
“I have faith that these kids will.”
