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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, February 24, 2004-23 *Sports ~i~@haItonsearch .com ~Hawks behind eight bail after OT loss Milton surrenders lead infinal minute of pivotai game two showdown By STEVE LeBLANC The Champion G eorge Duponî's comeback could be short- lived, unless his IceHawks can turn things around m short order. Wiîh his suspension now ftnished, Milton's head coach returus to a rather unenviable situation tomorrow night in Georgetown. Not only does his teasa trail the defending conference champion Raiders two-games-îo-none, but is no doubt reeling from Sunday's 5-4 overtune heartbreaker at Memorial Arena. Milton looked poised to even up the second round series thanks to an incredible third-period natural hat-trick by Wes Clark before disaster stmck with half-a-minuîe left remaining. Thats when IcAlaxxk turucu -. *.i Sbrocchî capltalùcd on bis former team's most costly breakdown to date and set up John Wheaton's clutch equalizer. Fmm there Georgetown's Trevor Blanchard would slip one part Jamie Flury 8:19 mto the extra session 10 put an early ham- mer-lock on the divi- sion semifinals. Clark had a coupleCame t Oeorgetown 2, Mitton O of golden opportuna- Game 2 Geurgetown 5, Mittos 4 (CT) lies in overtime, but Came 3 Feb. 25 at G'îuwn (8 00) was absolutely Came 4 Pcb. 27 at Memoriat (730) robbed by Matt *Game 5 Pcb. 25 at G'town (7 30) Harpwood on a *Game 6 Feb. 29 at Memoriat (300) - breakaway and *Gasne 7 Mar. 3 at Clown (8 ~<» Miltc emas-ice redirect. if necessaey Gêorg The IceHawks are now saddled with a towering task - having to win four of their next five games, iaicluding aI least two at hostile Gordon Alcott Arena. And with top sisiper Jonathan Omelas a question mark for tomonow night - havaig been hurt on a bit from bebind in the series opener - the outlook for such a tumaround is quite bleak. However, Dupont ian't pushing the paaiic bunon just yet. "I thiaik we should have won games one and two," Milton's akipper said, refemng 10 a couple of 'lucky' breaks for the heavi- ly-favoured Raiders. "I'm 001 sure we have 10 do a heck of a lot different. If we can stick to our game plan and keep playing the way we have, the law of averages dictates that we'll start getting tome of the bounces." The IceHawks sure didai'î gel any of those with the man-advan- tage Ibis part weekend. An IJ-for-12 powerplay wbstewarb war by far Use biggest stumbling block 10 victoey - both on Sunday and Saturday evening, when they were stoned 2-0. Otherwise, Milton bas measured up quite well 10 ils bigger and more experienced rivals - both m terma of effort and execution. Remarked Dupont, "(Mike) Sansom stepped il up today (Sunday) and Clark deflaiitely brought bis game b a new level. If we can juat gel these guys b continue playing like Usat and have a few others raise their game a little, we should be okay." BreIt Robinson joiaied Omelar on Use sidebaies afler bemg banged up in game two, while top-seoring Raider Ryan DelMonte war out Suaiday as weil, due 10 intemal strife from Use nighî before. WÏUs Milton's seoring droughtthreateniaig 10 spill over mb a tifth period Sunday, Sansom blasted one mb Use bottom right cor- ner juat a second before Use initial break 10 cut an early Georgetown lead in haif. He and fellow rookie Julian Sarraino have done a fairly credible job standing up 10 Useir physical supe- for opponents 50 far. Jason Fortino and Adam Pileggi each drew two arsists Sunday, wbile John Winstanley tallied twice for Use Raiders. Georgetown's game one goals were delivered by captain Vince Laise and Rosa SmiUs, who contributed a pair of helpers Use fol- lowing day. dOTOflI action until ti 5-4 in chipp~ >n lceHawk Adam Plleggi (aboya) la denled by etown goalle MatI Harpwood atter breaklng free ai teman David Brooks (aI right> durlng game two at Memorlal Arena Sunday atternoon. Mîlton led ~e final minute 0f regulation, but wound Up Ioslng overtime. Former Mîlton blueliner Phil Sbrocchl ,d in a goal and an asalat for Georgetown In the d4BfIeifin PhotosbyGRAHAMPAINE I ~ Reding cagers bounced by Lords Bishop Rediaig's senior boys basketball team capped 2003/04 play wiUs what can best be deseribed as a roller coaster playoff ruai lasI week. The ride came to an end aI Burlington's Nelson High School Wednesday aflemoon, when Royals were ousted 72-52 by Use older and more seasoned Lords. Reding came ouI flying in Use quarteffi- nal showdown and held a 15-0 lead aI one point. But Usat seoring pmwess would eventuaily disappear, as would hopes for an upset victory. The Royals trailed by a couple of baskets aI haif time and Usen faded down Use stretch. However, co-coacb Mark Freeman stressed UsaI a lengthy playoff ruai was neyer reaily expected frona Ibis year's young squad - UsaI bas juIl about eveey- EC reaches quarterfinals Aaid Usen Usere was one. Eight Milton teams began bigh sehool playoffa lasI week. Now only E.C. Drusy's girls hockey team remains in Use champi- onsbip huait - havîng eclipsed Burlington's Alderahot Aces 3-2 Thursday aflemoon 51 Memorial Arena. The narrow win - delivered wiUs a Usird-period blueline deposit by defence- man Katie Wollaston - eamed the Spartans passage 10 today's quarterfinals in Burlinglon. Candsee Anderson backstopped Drwy 10 victory against Alderahot, weaUsering a few laIe stornas 10 preserve Use lead, while denting Use twine early on were Laura LigIsUsail and Liane Zablotny. Jennine Loose and Amy Azzopardi drew arsists in Use tiraI-round decision. The Spartans will be Use overwbehning underdoga Ibis aflemoon, going against Use undefeated Notre Dame Irish, who've given up a measly Usree goals in nine games Ibis year. one comiaig back next season, and a few players eligible for 2005/06 play. "Our goal Ibis year was 10 make Use play- offs. Aaiything beyond UsaI was gravy," he explained. Standing ouI offensivety against Use Lords were AI Alilovic, Marcar Gray and Zac Ward. Fueliaig Nelson's convincing win wiUs a 26-point performance was reli- able ail-star Rory Tufford. At home lasI Monday, Reding highlight- ed ha season wiUs a 59-56 overtime deci- sion over Burlingtoai's Asswnption Crusaders in opening-mund play. Malt Mastrangelo pmvided Use heroics, steailaig Use bail aI haif court and draiaiing a thece-pointer wiUs about 15 seconds remaiaiing. Before Usar, Lance Codaier made good on four free Usrows 10 help crase an early extra-session deficil. Recalled Freeman, "Assumption had a couple of regulars back from injury and reaily came 10 play. But we stepped il up defensively and pulled il out." Sean MaUsé led overail in Use furst round wiUs 19 points.