For the Labatt Laurentians, perennial Challenge Cup contenders, it was their first taste of game action since last September when St. Lawrence lost 2-0 to Holy Cross in the league final.
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McAleese a key cog for Holy Cross
“We didn’t play a lot in the pre-season,” said St. Lawrence coach Derek Strang, “and it showed in the first half (against Mount Pearl) when we were out of sorts.
“We were a little better in the second half, with some pretty good chances, but we weren’t able to capitalize.”
The Laurentians face a problem that is unique to the St. Lawrence club. While the other five Challenge Cup entries are able to train as a group, the vast majority of St. Lawrence players are living in the St. John’s metro area.
Only team captain Marc Pittman and Shane Perrott remain in St. Lawrence, along with assistant coach Paul Slaney. Strang, a teacher in Grand Bank, lives in Burin.
“We didn’t practise over the winter, with the exception of five or six camps in St. John’s,” Strang said. “Until you’re on the field as a unit, it becomes difficult.
“Not making excuses, (but) I think what you saw in the first half (Saturday) was a result of that. And it’s not any easier playing in Mount Pearl on a maximum sized field. There’s more open space to cover, and we struggled with that. We spent a lot of time defending.”
Strang said the Big Blue were disappointed in their opening-day result and were overall much sharper against the Doubles Blues Sunday at King George V in St. John’s.
“By halftime,” he said, “the game was pretty much done.”
John Douglas posted the shutout for the Laurentians (1-1) Sunday, while Evan Myles (eight minutes), Stefan Slaney (11) and Jon Grant (45) had the goals.
Saturday at the Gushue Complex in Mount Pearl, Tyler Forsey, who scored nine goals for the Laurentians last season, had the only Mount Pearl (1-1) goal, at eight minutes. Brandon Noseworthy posted the shutout.
This is Forsey’s second stint with Mount Pearl. In addition to St. Lawrence, he’s also played for Holy Cross and Feildians.
Elsewhere Sunday, defending champs Holy Cross (2-0) slipped past Mount Pearl 2-1 on a goal by Kyle Williams in the 76th minute.
At the Wellington Street Complex in Corner Brook, the homestanding Steers United club (1-0-1) and C.B.S. That Pro Look Strikers FC (0-1-1) battled to a scoreless draw.
At King George V, Tyler Kirby opened scoring for the Crusaders 17 minutes in. It stood 1-0 until Ronaldo Morris tied things up at 33 minutes.
In Corner Brook, Tyler Kelloway, for the home team, and Braeden Sheppard for C.B.S. posted shutouts.
On opening-day Saturday, Holy Cross received shutout goaltending from Thomas Pieroway and a pair of goals from Hassan Kamara at 45 and 47 minutes in a 4-0 win over Feildians (0-2). Jake Warren, at 30 minutes, and Williams, at eight, also scored.
Corner Brook got goals from Logan McIssac (25 minutes), Patrick Fewer (45), Steve Hobbs (80) and Evan Martin (84) to beat C.B.S. 4-1. Josh Hanrahan managed a goal at 78 minutes for the visitors, who failed to win a game last year.
Five games are scheduled next weekend. Saturday, Holy Cross plays Feildians (KGV), C.B.S. plays host to St. Lawrence (Topsail Turf Complex) and Corner Brook visits Mount Pearl (Gushue Complex). Sunday, it’s Corner Brook and C.B.S. in C.B.S., while Holy Cross tangles with St. Lawrence at KGV in a rematch of last year’s final.
For the Labatt Laurentians, perennial Challenge Cup contenders, it was their first taste of game action since last September when St. Lawrence lost 2-0 to Holy Cross in the league final.
Related stories:
McAleese a key cog for Holy Cross
“We didn’t play a lot in the pre-season,” said St. Lawrence coach Derek Strang, “and it showed in the first half (against Mount Pearl) when we were out of sorts.
“We were a little better in the second half, with some pretty good chances, but we weren’t able to capitalize.”
The Laurentians face a problem that is unique to the St. Lawrence club. While the other five Challenge Cup entries are able to train as a group, the vast majority of St. Lawrence players are living in the St. John’s metro area.
Only team captain Marc Pittman and Shane Perrott remain in St. Lawrence, along with assistant coach Paul Slaney. Strang, a teacher in Grand Bank, lives in Burin.
“We didn’t practise over the winter, with the exception of five or six camps in St. John’s,” Strang said. “Until you’re on the field as a unit, it becomes difficult.
“Not making excuses, (but) I think what you saw in the first half (Saturday) was a result of that. And it’s not any easier playing in Mount Pearl on a maximum sized field. There’s more open space to cover, and we struggled with that. We spent a lot of time defending.”
Strang said the Big Blue were disappointed in their opening-day result and were overall much sharper against the Doubles Blues Sunday at King George V in St. John’s.
“By halftime,” he said, “the game was pretty much done.”
John Douglas posted the shutout for the Laurentians (1-1) Sunday, while Evan Myles (eight minutes), Stefan Slaney (11) and Jon Grant (45) had the goals.
Saturday at the Gushue Complex in Mount Pearl, Tyler Forsey, who scored nine goals for the Laurentians last season, had the only Mount Pearl (1-1) goal, at eight minutes. Brandon Noseworthy posted the shutout.
This is Forsey’s second stint with Mount Pearl. In addition to St. Lawrence, he’s also played for Holy Cross and Feildians.
Elsewhere Sunday, defending champs Holy Cross (2-0) slipped past Mount Pearl 2-1 on a goal by Kyle Williams in the 76th minute.
At the Wellington Street Complex in Corner Brook, the homestanding Steers United club (1-0-1) and C.B.S. That Pro Look Strikers FC (0-1-1) battled to a scoreless draw.
At King George V, Tyler Kirby opened scoring for the Crusaders 17 minutes in. It stood 1-0 until Ronaldo Morris tied things up at 33 minutes.
In Corner Brook, Tyler Kelloway, for the home team, and Braeden Sheppard for C.B.S. posted shutouts.
On opening-day Saturday, Holy Cross received shutout goaltending from Thomas Pieroway and a pair of goals from Hassan Kamara at 45 and 47 minutes in a 4-0 win over Feildians (0-2). Jake Warren, at 30 minutes, and Williams, at eight, also scored.
Corner Brook got goals from Logan McIssac (25 minutes), Patrick Fewer (45), Steve Hobbs (80) and Evan Martin (84) to beat C.B.S. 4-1. Josh Hanrahan managed a goal at 78 minutes for the visitors, who failed to win a game last year.
Five games are scheduled next weekend. Saturday, Holy Cross plays Feildians (KGV), C.B.S. plays host to St. Lawrence (Topsail Turf Complex) and Corner Brook visits Mount Pearl (Gushue Complex). Sunday, it’s Corner Brook and C.B.S. in C.B.S., while Holy Cross tangles with St. Lawrence at KGV in a rematch of last year’s final.
