Two days after they ended the season as the league's top regular season team, the Shooters Pub Devils came crashing down to earth Wednesday night.
They were blindsided 20-7 by the College Heights Assault in Game 1 of the best-of-five Prince George Senior Lacrosse Association final at the Coliseum.
The Devils had no answer for the offensive talents of Dave Jenkins Jr., John Makowsky and Craig Dunfield, who accounted for 18 of the 20 Assault goals. Jenkins Jr., picked up five goals and 10 assists, the speedy Makowsky collected eight goals and added two assists, and Dunfield hit for five goals and three assists. Russill Mills made 32 saves to seal the win.
As has been the case most of the season, the Assault had a short bench and started the game with just nine runners, adding one more to the mix when Dunfield arrived late in the first period.
The Assault led 5-2 after one period and 14-4 after two. Jamie Klarenbeek and Andre Baldo, each with two goals, were the high scorers for Shooters. Steven Brizan, who was brilliant in the Devils' 3-1 semifinal series upset of the BX Pub Bandits, had an off-day like the rest of his teammates, making 24 stops.
The Devils hope to have their top scorer, Danton Nicholson, and hard-hitting veteran Scott Anderson back for Game 2 Monday night. Nicholson missed the game due to work commitments while the 45-year-old Anderson was recovering from injuries.
"I think we experienced a high when we knocked off BX Pub and everybody got so keyed up to win that series but we weren't hyped for this series, there was no emotion,' said Devils coach Rick Adams. "I do believe if we have all our players and are mentally prepared we can give them a competitive game."
Due to the lack of arena availability the path to the Dale Roluffs Memorial trophy has been shortened this year to a five-game series instead of the usual best-of-seven. Games are scheduled next week for Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (if necessary). A fifth game, if needed, would be played on Monday, July 22.
The winner will have the right to represent Prince George at the B.C. senior C championship in New Westminster and Coquitlam, Aug. 9-11.
