By Cole Moskovicz
After playing 9 minutes of overtime in their 6-5 victory over Zone 4 (Fraser River) on Saturday night, the Zone 6 (Vancouver Island-Central Coast) Box Lacrosse team had to refocus quickly in order to be ready to play the Gold Medal game Sunday morning. A quick start is exactly what they got with a first period offensive explosion giving them a 7-1 lead over Zone 2 (Thompson-Okanagan).
However, the team from the interior wasn’t just about roll over. They cut the lead to 8-4 midway through the second thanks to some effective powerplays. That’s when Zone 6 Captain Levi Verch reinvigorated his team defensively. Helping them kill off a penalty and then break out and score to put his team ahead 9-4 heading into the second intermission.
In a physical third period, both teams managed to net a goal each. Despite Zone 2’s best effort at a comeback, it wasn’t enough to overcome their early deficit. When the clock hit double zeros, Zone 6 had won 10-5.
Playing the Summer Games in the Cowichan Valley, the Vancouver Island squad knew how important it was to play in front of a home crowd and represent their community. But even more prevalent after the game was over was the sportsmanship and respect between the two teams. After a very physical third period many players from both teams embraced their opponents with hugs and handshakes.
Given the deep talent pool on Vancouver Island for Lacrosse, Verch knew going into the tournament that his squad was one of the favourites to win it all. It was his job to help keep those expectations at bay and keep his team focused on just playing Lacrosse. “We knew we had the team to win it, and to be able to do it in front of so many friends and family is amazing’’