Halifax West High School wins 8th straight Metro High School Lacrosse Tournament over CPA

 
 
 
RECAP
 
 
 
April 13, 2015
Colin Beiswanger
 
 
 
You couldn’t have written a better finish at the Metro High School Lacrosse tournament this past Saturday. The top division teams put on a show on Friday evening with Halifax West Warriors (HWHS) overcoming a quality Eastern Shore team, and the CPA Cheetahs getting past Auburn.
 
 
The final was then set for a matchup between two teams undefeated in the round robin play and arguable the two favourites going into the tournament.
 
 
The game started off back and forth with goaltenders Alex Mitchell for CPA and Jack Nielson for HWHS providing great goaltending on either end of the floor. Both are HNW Marley Lions property and there is no doubt they will be ones to watch in future years with the club.
 
 
After an even 1^st period offensively Halifax West was playing catch-up for most of the game. Sackville Wolves products Ryan Arsenault and Connor Aquanno starred for the Cheetahs, the latter scoring an electric goal getting past two defenders to put the Cheetahs up 6-4.
 
 
Phil Elford scored two, putting his goal total at 11 for the tournament. Elford was clearly a driving force on the Cheetahs with his two-way play, something the Marley Lions will be looking to see this coming season.
 
 
While they were playing catch up, the Warriors never seemed too far away. Lions property Ollie Dickson, who had been producing at key moments all tournament for the Warriors, was critical again scoring two goals and providing direction on offence. The Warriors also seemed to rally around the tournament’s top point-getter Campbell Pickard, who scored two goals in the contest.
 
 
The Cheetahs kept their composure, led by Bedford Rock players Mitchell Broussard and Mark Seward, with goals in the first and second respectively. With time running out in the 3^rd period the game seemed to level-out, with both teams dishing jabs back and forth but with nothing to show for it.
 
 
All this changed at 5:29 in the third period when Luke Staples scored a precarious goal to spark the Warriors offence. The Cheetahs responded with one of their own at 3:55 remaining, but the Warriors scored quickly 16 seconds later.
 
 
From there Staples and Pickard took over going back and forth, ultimately taking the lead with 1:27 remaining on the clock. Despite coaches Mike Smeltzer and Tyler James being content with over-time, Staples wasn’t finished, scored the teams 8^th goal on the right-crease to put the team ahead for good with 0:27 seconds remaining.
 
 
It was a team effort on both sides, with HWHS coming out on top 9-7. Credit to the Cheetahs who had beat teams down all tournament with their depth late into games, unfortunately on Saturday the Warriors matched it.
 
 
This game marks eight straight championships for Coach Mike Smeltzer and the Warriors. This year’s final marks the third close finish in a row for the club, and you can expect the same challenge from a tough CPA squad and others in next year’s tournament.