Mustangs U15 Lacrosse Team Oh So Close In Provincial Final

By Robert Thomas

With three minutes left in regulation, play Moose Jaw Mustangs Ryker Kretsch was tripped up with a clear break away on goal.

Although it took a minute for the penalty to be decided in the end Kretsch was awarded one of the rarest and most coveted penalties - a penalty shot.

MOOSE JAW MUSTANG PLAYER RYKER KRETSCH IS TRIPPED LATE IN THE THIRD PERIOD LEADING TO A PENALTY SHOT - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

It was something Kretsch would not miss scoring on Weyburn’s Quinton Stinson giving the Mustangs a seemingly unbeatable 5 - 4 lead lead in the highly physical game.

But with eight seconds left Weyburn’s Hudson Maloney would tie it up sending the game into overtime.

An overtime which saw the Thrashers’ Alex Labrecque score with 10 seconds left in the first overtime period to claim the provincial title.

The disappointing 6 - 5 loss echoed throughout the Moose Jaw Event Centre.

MOOSE JAW MUSTANGS HAYDEN NIDESH (RIGHT) LINES UP A SHOT ON WEYBURN THRASHERS NETMINDER QUINTON STINSON - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

It was a disappointing loss for the Mustangs who is fight back against a First Period 3 - 1 deficit against the Thrashers.

The Thrashers would open the scoring on a Hudson Maloney goal assisted by Nathan Rosengren at the 15:30 mark.

The Mustangs would tie up the game at 7:19 when Chase Folk scored assisted by Luke Turner.

The Thrashers would take the lead at 3:41 when Maloney scored his second goal.

The Thrashers Maddox Moham would add another unassisted goal with 42 seconds left in the period.

The Thrashers headed into the first break with a 3 - 1 lead.

MOOSE JAW MUSTANGS KASHTON SMith IS PUSHED OFF BALANCE ATTEMPTING TO BREAK IN ALONE ON THE WEYBURN THRASHERS NET - MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

The Second Period saw a bit of a Mustang resurgence as they cut the Thrashers’ lead to a single goal.

Weyburn’s Alex Labrecque would score a goal at the 12:45 mark assisted by Branson Law.

Moose Jaw would then respond with two unanswered goats.

Kashton Smith scored at 8:04 for the Mustangs, assisted by Hayden Nidesh.

The Mustangs would make it a 4 - 3 game at the second intermission on a goal by Smith at 2:21 listed by Kretsch.

MOOSE JAW MUSTANGS KASHTON SMITH (RIGHT) CHASES AFTER A REBOUND- MJ INDEPENDENT PHOTO

The Third Period saw the Mustangs turn up the heat on the Thrashers as a Moose Jaw squad caught up, not only on shots on goal, but also on the scoreboard.

The Mustangs Chase Folk would score an unassisted tying goal at 6:44.

Kretsch scored on a penalty shot with three minutes left in regulation play.

With Moose Jaw seemingly coming from behind to win the provincial U15 lacrosse title Weyburn’s Maloney scored his hat trick goal with eight seconds left in regulation play sending the game and overtime.

Weyburn would claim the potential title when Labrecque would thread a goal with 10 seconds, left in the first overtime period.

Weyburn claimed the provincial title by defeating Moose Jaw 6 - 5 in overtime.