They made things plenty interesting along the way, but Team Saskatchewan fell just short of reaching the semifinal in male lacrosse at the Canada Summer Games.
A pair of tough losses in the quarter-final and first consolation game will now see Team Sask play for seventh place on Sunday morning.
A trio of players with Moose Jaw Lacrosse Association are playing for Saskatchewan with Mustangs standouts Mason Williams and Cashton Seaborg joining former Moose Jaw and current Swift Current player Carter Michaluk in the tournament.
Team Sask finished off their round robin with an 8-4 win over New Brunswick and 5-3 loss to Quebec for a 2-1-1 round robin record, good enough for third place in their pool.
They faced B.C. in their quarter-final matchup and lost a close 8-5 decision before closing out their tournament with a 9-7 loss to Nova Scotia in their consolation game.
Against New Brunswick, Team Sask held a 3-2 lead after the first period but poured in four goals in the second for a 7-3 edge and would never look back.
Seaborg had a goal and an assist in the game, with his marker coming 4:38 into the first period. Michaluk also had a solid contest with three assists while Williams was held off the scoresheet.
A tough second period was the difference in their game Thursday against Quebec, as they’d surrender three unanswered goals to trial 4-1. Back-to-back markers midway through the third made things interesting down the stretch, but Saskatchewan would be unable to get any closer.
Michaluk contributed a goal and an assist, scoring the game’s opening goal 2:46 into the proceedings, while Seaborg had a pair of assists.
Saskatchewan’s quarter-final bout was as tough a loss as they come. After scoring three goals in the second period to tie the game 4-4, they’d surrender four straight goals in a nine-minute span in the third and B.C. would hold on for the win.
Michaluk had an assist, Seaborg and Wiliams were held scoreless.
The consolation contest against Nova Scotia was as back-and-forth as they come, with the score tied no less than seven times through the 60 minutes. Nova Scotia would strike 8:37 into the third to take the lead once and for all, though, and would add an insurance marker with 5:36 remaining to close out scoring.
Michaluk picked up three assists in the outing.
Saskatchewan will now face the loser of Manitoba and New Brunswick to decide seventh place on Sunday at 8 a.m. Moose Jaw time.
