2007 Game Reports
Knights Come Out Strong Against the Saints
The Knights were at home today, hosting the Saints. The Saints, coming off of a 19-4 win over the Griffins, were looking to take it to the Knights as well. The two teams played a solid, clean first period, going up and down the floor; moving the ball around well. Superb goaltending at both ends kept the game scoreless for the first 11 minutes unitl the Saints got one. Justin Morehouse responded for the Knights 17 seconds later, but Nepean couldn't hold the Saints off the board as they found the back of the net three more time to finish the period with a 4-1 lead.
During the second period both teams began to open up the fast break, with Andrew Marquis setting up several Knights for breakaways. The Saints ran into penatly trouble throughout the second period, but was able to escape with only one powerplay goal against. Kyle Drisdelle was able to find plenty of shooting lanes during the man advantages and was able connect on one shot. Joncas added another and the teams went into the second intermission with the score 6-3.
The third period was once again dominated by the goaltenders as defensive breakdowns at both ends of the floor resulted in more offensive chances than anyone would care to remember. Knights goals by Joncas and Curtis Singleton brought game to its score of 9-5.
The next Knights home game is Saturday June 2 against Markham. Be sure to come out and support your lacrosse team with "local players".
Knights Find a Win When They Needed One
The Knights hit the road tonight and found a win somewhere along the way. As has been the story this year the Knights came out strong, dominating the first period. Nepean scored four goals and controlled the play for much of the period. With markers Mike Morris, Jordan Weedmark, Justin Morehouse and Jordan Joncas, the Knights were able to go into the dressing room with a 4-0 lead. The first intermission was a wake up call for the Cornwall Celtics who answered with two powerplay goals and two even strength tallies to tie the game at four. A late Nepean goal by Kyle Drisdelle sent the Knights into the second intermission with a 5-4 lead. The Celtics evened the score early in the third, but the Knights went on a short run after that with goals by Justin Morehouse and a powerplay goal by Jordan Joncas. The final score was 7-6. Andrew Marquis had another great night in net for the Knights. Marquis followed this performance up with "bit of a dust up" with the Cornwall goalie, showing his team-mates that even their netminder is willing to stick up for his team-mates. The next Knights home game is Sunday May 20 against the Saints. Be sure to come out and support your lacrosse team with "local players".
Knights Lose Lead in Last Few Minutes
The Knights found themselves in the drivers seat all night against the Akwesasne Lightning, but couldn't keep things together for the full 60 minutes. The Knights started off the game with goals by Jake Ellis and Noam Goldstein to lead 2-0. Akwesasne responded with one goal, but Jordan Weekmark and Mike Morris rounded out the scoring for the first period leaving the score at 4-1. The second period started off quite quickly with plenty of end to end plays, which I'm sure caused no end of pain for the two coaching staffs. The Knights had goals from Jordan Joncas, Chris Ford and Justin Morehouse. But these goals were not enough as sloppy play and plenty of loose balls allowed the Lightning to come back and tie the period at 7-7. The third period was rather quiet with more of the same play that characterized the end of the second period. One Knights goal by Mike Zanyk was all they could muster as the Lightning scored a powerplay marker and finally a shorthanded goal that turned out to be the winner with less than two minutes to go in the game.
The next Knights home game is Sunday May 20.
Knights Tough Weekend Concludes
The club found itself in Oakville to take on the Buzz Sunday afternoon (what a wonderful way to spend Mother's Day!!). Still with only 13 runners, the Knights soldiered on. The Buzz started the scoring in this match-up and rattled off three straight goals before the half way point of the first period. Noam Goldstein, who had a strong game for the Knights, was able to respond, but that was all the offence they were able to create. Oakville then went on a 7 goal run between the half way point of the first and the 11 minute mark of the second period before Mike Zanyk of the Knights was able to connect. Jordan Joncas had a goal in the second period and Zanyk and Scott also had markers in the third. One item of note is that Jordan Joncas, fresh off of a season of field lacrosse in the US is starting to get his box lacrosse "legs" back under him. With the return of Ford, Lewandowsky and other next week, the Knights are expecting to go on a bit of a run.
Knights Experience Rough Roadtrip
The Knights were on the road this weekend and had a hard time mustering any offence. With several key players out of the line-up due to injuries, the Knights looked rather thinned out this weekend. They rolled into Mimico on Saturday night to take on the Mountaineers, with only 13 runners making the trip for the Knights. Many knew it would be a long evening before it even started. Team leaders like Chris Ford (still suffering the effects from the vicious hit by the Green Gaels last weekend), Brett Lewandowsky and several others were unable to make the trip. We all knew that goalie Andrew Marquis would need to come up big for the club, repeatedly, to help keep the score close. That being said, it was only a matter of time before the other club was able to wear down the depleted Knights roster and control the match. The Mountaineers were off to a good start, scoring four goals before the half way point of the first period before Nepean was able to respond. Mike Morris, fresh off of an early season injury connected for the Knights, but that was all the offence they were able to create in the period. Mimico bounced back with two more goals to close the period. Similar stories can be written for the second and third periods with Knights goals by Jordan Weekmark (2) and Jordan Joncas (1).
Bulldogs Beat Knights
The Knights were in a tough game again today as they took on the Halton Hills Bulldogs. Nepean started the scoring with a quick one by Justin Morehouse. Play continued end to end for much of the period, in what turned out to be an exciting 20 minutes of play. The teams went to the dressing room with the Bulldogs leading 4 to 2 and the Knights looking like they may threaten the Bulldogs. The highlight of this period and the remaining two would be Nepean’s goaltender, Andrew Marquis. The second period saw only one goal scored by Halton Hills; a short handed goal off of a 5 minute checking from behind penalty.
The Knights had a hard time finding their usual intensity today. Throughout the second period, and more frequently in the third, the Knights were beaten to loose balls and gave up too many turnovers. While the Knights were able to play like this for the second period, it became impossible to continue for two straight periods and not pay the price.
In the third period the Bulldogs were able capitalize on the Knights mental errors and scored 8 goals. The final score was 13 to 3 for Halton. The player of the game for Nepean was an easy one to choose today, with Andrew Marquis making save upon save and keeping the Knights in the game for two periods.
The next Knights home game is on Thursday, May 17 at 8 pm versus Akwesasne.
Knights Lose to the Gaels
The Knights were at home today to face the Green Gaels, in what many expected to be a real test for this young team. The game started very strong for both teams, with the two trading goals for the first period and keeping the game relatively clear of penalties. The Knights went into the dressing room at the end of the first period with a 3 to 2 lead, with Brett Lewandowsky scoring all three for the Knights. The lead was tempered by the realization that the flu bug going through the team was having a greater effect on the guys than they expected.
The Knights had to start the 2nd period with a shortened bench and the effects showed on the scoreboard. The Gaels scored 7 goals in the second period with the Knights only able to respond once. Throughout the period the Knights lost battles for loose balls and got beat on breakaways repeatedly. It was a valiant effort by the guys, but there was just not enough "gas left in the tank" for those players who were able to continue.
In an attempt to kickstart the team, the Knights replaced rookie goaltender Chris Chuback with veteran Andrew Marquis to start the third period. This was to no avail at the Gaels came out and controlled the period and scored 4 more goals. A flurry of Gaels penalties in the third period was not enough to allow the Knights back into the game, which ended 13 to 4 for the Gaels.
The Next Knights home game is Sunday May 6 at 2 pm at Merivale Arena versus the Halton Hill Bulldogs.
Knights Control Gloucester in 11-8 Win
The Nepean Knights home opener was played at the Merivale Arena tonight and the Gloucester Griffens were hard pressed to keep pace with a solid Knights team, who beat them 11 to 8. The first home game of the Knights Junior B season a great one for the home crowd. The Griffens opened the scoring early in the first period, but the Knights responded with two quick goals by Brett Lewandowsky and Noam Goldstein and never relinquished the lead. A late period marker by Joel Brayton closed the period at 3 to 1 for Nepean.
Gloucester brought the game back to within one goal, but the Knights came back with four unanswered goals by Chris Ford (who scored one of the prettier goals of the evening), Brett Lewandowsky, Peter Murphy and Jordan Weedmark. A late period marker by Gloucester set the final score at the end of two at 7 to 3.
The chippy side of the game was on display in the third, with Gloucester racking up 30 minutes in penalties compared to the Knights 12. This side of the Griffens game seemed to bring out the best in their players, as the team responded with 5 goals compared with Nepeans 4 third period goals. A couple of fast break passes from the goalie Ince let the Gloucester players take advantage of the Knights. Scoring for Nepean in the 3rd was Chris Ford, Brett Lewandowsky, and Jordan Weedmark.
The Knights player of the game was Chris Ford with 2 goals and 4 assists. Great efforts were also found in the play of Jordan Weedmark and Brett Lewandowsky.
The next Knights home game is on Saturday, May 5th 8:00 PM vs. the Green Gaels with another home game on Sunday, May 6th 2:00 PM vs. Halton Hills. All home games are played at Merivale Arena.
Knights Open 2007 Season With A Tie
The Nepean Knights travelled down to Akwesasne to start the 2007 Junior B season and came away with a tie, 11 - 11, against a strong Lightning team. The first game of the Junior B season for the Knights was played on the new carpet at the Turtle dome in front of a GREAT crowd.
Nepean drew first blood early in the game followed by a reply from Akwesasne later in the first period. Both teams played tough defence for the year's first game and were also able to find great goaltending as the teams went into the first intermission with a 1 - 1 tie.
Nepean came out in the second with Jordan Weedmark and Brett Lewendowsky both finding the back of the net. The Knights took the lead early in the period and were able to control the flow of the game. The second ended with Nepean sitting on a 6 - 4 lead. Rookie goaltender Chris Chuback came up with some tremendous save tonight and made a couple at the end of the second that had several Lightning players shaking their heads.
Akwesasne switched goaltenders to start the third and Nepean went on a two goal run. Injuries to several key players at this point seemed to put Nepean back on their heels. The Knights seemed to hit a wall and Akwesasne had a five goal run, eventually taking the lead for the first time late in the game. However, the Knights dug deep and found a late period goal to tie things up at 9 and send the game into overtime. The two teams played carefully for the overtime, with one team scoring and the other replying. The match ended in an 11 - 11 tie. A great game to watch and hats off to the referees who called a good game!