Legionnaires Lost a Close one

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2016
COMMUNITY NEWS


BY DAN McCAFFERY


The Sarnia Legionnaires lost another tough one Thursday, falling 3-2 to the LaSalle Vipers.

Like so many recent contests, it was a game the Legionnaires could well have won.

In fact, they outshot the Vipers 32-29. But a failure to score on the power play did them in. Sarnia was 0-for-7 with the man advantage. And the winning goal was a shorthanded effort by Eric Kirby.

"We worked hard, then they go down and score a shorthanded goal,” Sarnia head coach Mark Davis said. “We just can't find a way to win right now. I hope we can get it going because the playoffs are just around the corner.”

The Legionnaires, who have lost three in a row, find themselves with a record of 22-21-2-3. They will finish in sixth place in the nine-team Western Ontario Hockey Conference standings.

Brendan Shagena put the Legionnaires ahead 1-0 in the first period, redirecting the puck into the cage for his third of the campaign. Eric Marsh and Jarret Marks drew assists.

But LaSalle dominated the middle frame, with Tyler Russell and Brett Primeau blinking the red light to give the visitors the edge heading into the final stanza. They would have enjoyed an ever bigger lead if not for some splendid penalty killing, including one stretch when Sarnia was two men short.

Captain Hunter Tyczynski tied the game at the 13:43 mark of the third, cutting in front before rifling home his 10th of the season. Marks and Jordan Fogarty got helpers on the play.

Three minutes later, LaSalle's Eric Kirby scored to give the visitors the win.

Goalie Shayne Battler suffered the loss, while Vipers netman Eli Billing was credited with the victory. Billing also had an assist on the winning goal.

Attendance was 1,172.

The Legionnaires has two games remaining in the regular season with the first next Thursday when they host the Maroons. Game time at the Brock Street barn is set for 7:10 p.m. The final game is against Lambton Shores.


 

 

 

 







 

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