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22-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, Apnl 30, 2002 .,Mi1ton enjoys eventful return to Jr. B scene Mavericks engineer exciting comeback against Spartan Warriors, but fali a littie short By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion Milton's Jr. B lacrosse tearn rolled out a seven, although that proved to be anything but lucky at John Tonell Sports Centre Saturday. Trailing Spartan 14-13 in the dying moments of the night, the hosts inadvertently sent seven attackers nut for a final attcmpt at the equalizer and gos it on a last-second sidearm deposit by Bobby MacDonald. However, hopes for overtime were shoet-lived as the symng tally was negated because of ton many men - thus crushing thse Mavericks' bid for closing out their season-opening weekend in victory. But Glen Little refused to blame thse loss on bis club's mix-up or on a referee that only called the goal back after shouts of protest ftom the visiting bcnch. Instead, Mlton's hcad coachs shouldered responsibility hinsseif - pointing to his third-period ejection, following a brief outburst for what he felt were a growing series of lousy calis, as the chief cause of defeat. 1I blew it," he said, just moments after Saturday's loss which dropped the returning Mavericka to 0-2. "1 cost us the ganse tnnight. I should have been nut there with my pannrer (assistant coach Glen Flippance)." Nevertisclets, Little took solace in bis team's much-insproved effort over home-opening play against Halton Hills Thursday. Keeping defensive breakdowns to a missimum and steppmng things up offensively againt Spartan Saturday, Milton erased four and three-goal Ieads tu push their gueta to thse unmit. Improved goaltending Goaltender Josh Arnold - shough nos exactly spectacular - made somne key saves he failed to just a couple of nights carier while the return of Derek Mewhinney helped spark the front-line attack. Said Little, "This was the seain I've heem saying ai along will be be competitive. They showed a lot of hears tonight." A pair of concentrated scoring surges and stronger man-to-man coverage allowed the Mavericks to keep pace with Spartan aftcr a rather dismal firss 10 minutes. One particularly posent stretch - between the end of the flrst perind and stant of the second - saw them dent the twine five times in under two minutes. Hagel cnunted four goals overail while tallying twice were Mewhinney and Drew Petkoff - one of three Hamilton-arca playcrs on the Mavcricks. Counting singles were MacDonald, Justin Corke, Kyle Goertz, James Mclntosh and Paul Peduila. Two igis carier againt Halton HUis, Milton held three sepa- rate leads through thse fùrst haif but were presay mucis non-existant for the balance of tise homc-openisg contet and wcre hammered 20-8. Pedulla camne back a little carier than expected frons a thigh mnjuiy and while impressive througis the firat period - with a goal and two assists - aggrcvatmng pain eut bis flrst night back short after 20 minutes. Gocriz and Mats Decaire, one of the more promuimg youngsters Milton trSparte in the lineup, each had two goals and an assist. em aSprn Before a homne-openiflg crowd of about 225, the Mavericks fal opponent while tered down thse stretcis against thse 2002 Foundcr's Cup hosts and ~fr (Inset) Derek were particularly ineffective shrough period two - getting Mewhinnoy and outscored 10-2. Kyle Hagel (9) Milton begmns a two-gamce road tnip in Guelph Thursday. Friday celebrate a se- the searn is in Markhamn.on-eodga 'Me Mavenicks retum to Tonelli next Thursday, May 9 to take on onaîu rioa goa Owen Sound. Gamne turne is 8 p.m. audy Maverick notes: Local lacrosse players Kyle Arbuckie, SandyPhtsb Chapman and Corey Leigh - who're now toiling in the profes-Phtsb sional ranks - were on hand to help the Mavericks kick off their GAA new scason Thursday.PAN A ,s Prsn uue-AlPolm , 444lmSpcal AAt MOHAW IN AN CO FR ECN, *.PBLVIL - Exi 31e-f41 V MA - 5 -9. m. s o 10 p. m. Moo Inf and Aponmn CaS i 90-0-64 Pes o O iMhw n