Four games into the 2019 Rocky Mountain Lacrosse League (RMLL) season, and the Rockyview Knights men’s team has managed to churn out three crucial wins to take the top spot in the senior B division, with a 3-1 record.
Low-scoring and closely-fought contests have proven the name of the game, with the Knights outscoring its opponents 29-26 across four fixtures. Despite an average of just 7.25 goals a game, Rockyview’s strong goaltending and resolute defending have proven the difference in the first weekends of action.
“Ultimately, we’re out there grinding,” said Patrick Omeara, who leads the Knights in scoring with seven goals and four assists – the third highest points total in the league.
“We’re not expecting to win 14-3 – it’s not that type of league and we’re not that type of team – but we’re able to battle.”
After opening the season April 26 with an 8-6 win over the Calgary Mountaineers, the Knights lost 7-6 to the Calgary Raiders on the road May 4.
Looking to shake off the defeat, the Knights returned to the Plainsmen Arena May 10 and 11 for games against the Mountaineers and the Beaumont Outlaws. Playing the Mounties at home for the second time this season, the Knights came through with a 6-5 victory.
The following day, Rockyview managed to police the Outlaws 9-8 in another back-and-forth game that saw both teams enjoy momentum swings.
Despite trailing 7-5 early in the third period, the Knights scored three unanswered goals to lead by one. Beaumont tied it up with six minutes left on the clock, before Paulo Falzi quickly replied with the winning goal for Rockyview less than 30 seconds later.
“[Beaumont] went hard and [was] able to get up on us by a couple, but we were able to battle back and keep it a game all the way through,” said Omeara, who scored twice against the Outlaws. “We were able to come out with a couple extra goals.”
According to Omeara, winning games by fine margins will prove crucial at the tail end of the regular season.
“At the end of the year, it helps out when you’re trying to battle for that first or second position, to get the home floor [for playoffs],” he said.
The Knights will return May 24 for another road clash with the Raiders. The game starts at 7:30 p.m. at the Brentwood Sportsplex in Calgary.
Mohawks undefeated
In the other men’s division of the RMLL, the Airdrie Mohawks continues its three-year dominance of Senior C lacrosse in Alberta with three straight wins to kick off the 2019 campaign.
The Mohawks opened the season with an 11-5 victory May 3 over the Okotoks Erratic before topping the Calgary Irish 9-5 the following day.
The ‘Hawks then enjoyed its easiest game yet May 11, providing a 21-5 pounding to the Olds Sr. C Stingers.
Lacrosse fans in Alberta likely wouldn’t be surprised by these results – Airdrie is the three-time defending Senior C champion in Alberta, and hasn’t lost a game in the RMLL since the 2015 championship game, held July 26 of that year, against the Blackfalds Silverbacks.
Attack winless after four
Airdrie’s top women’s team – the Rockyview Attack – is still looking for its first win of 2019, following a heavy 12-1 defeat May 12 to the Calgary Cougars.
The loss means Rockyview is second from the bottom in the five-team RMLL senior ladies division, with a 0-3-1 record.
The team’s sole point this season came in a 5-5 tie, May 5 against the Edmonton Bandits.
The Attack will play its next fixture on the road May 25, against the Sherwood Park Titans. Rockyview will return home May 26 for another battle against the Bandits, with opening faceoff set for 3:30 p.m. at the Plainsmen Arena.
