Total team defense is paying off for the Rheo Thompson Tier III Warriors.
The Warriors hosted the Sarnia Junior Sting, November 4. Sporting new goal pads, Keeson DeYoung got the start between the pipes and was sharp especially early on. Just over two minutes in, Liam Micks and Ethan Schmidt set up Luke Hishon. He banked a shot in off the defender to give the home side a 1-0 lead. Moments later, DeYoung made a big pad save unfortunately the rebound bounced out to a Sting attacker and he snapped it in to tie it up. The Sting outshot the Warriors 8-3 in the first.
In the second, Hishon sent Schmidt in on a breakaway and he found the top shelf for the go ahead tally. From that point on, Owen Martin, Ryan Watling, Cohen Bowles, Jason Adair, Caleb Hurley, Ryder Duchense, Micks, Schmidt and Hishon stymied the Sting attack with relentless back checking and a strong forecheck. Colton Campbell, Nate Meadows, Ethan Bridges and Alexander Erb blocked shots and did whatever it took to prevent the Sting from mounting an attack. The total team defence limited the Sting to just three shots over the course of the rest of the game. It was a superb effort that resulted in a 2-1 victory.
On November 5, the Warriors traveled to London to face the North London Nationals.
Malaika Kibedi got the start and was tested immediately as the Warriors were penalized for tripping just over a minute in. Unfortunately, the Nationals' sniper evaded the defenders and ripped a shot glove side. London held a 7-4 shot advantage after one.
Schmidt won the opening draw in the second and broke through the defence before flipping it up and over the netminder for an unassisted marker. The teams exchanged chances in the second but both goalies made some great saves to preserve the 1-1 tie through two periods.
Two minutes into the third, Micks and Schmidt set up Hishon and he found the back of the net for a 2-1 lead. The Nationals pressed for the equalizer and Kibedi made several great saves to keep it close, unfortunately London jumped on a rebound with 5:06 to go to knot it up 2-2.
The three point weekend gives the Warriors a record of three wins, four losses and a tie, good enough for fourth overall. The Warriors are back in action November 9 when they host the West London Hawks Black squad at 7:30 p.m. On November 11, they host the West London Hawks White at 6 p.m. and then travel to London to face the Bandits, November 12.