Final game reports from The Marco :

09-24-2005 @ 11:00: Game 6 (cross over game) vs USA Stars:

Right from the onset, the gym temperature was going to be a major factor as the heat and humidity were omnipresent. This would affect both teams, thus cooling down the athletes would be key in this war of attrition.

Athletes became weary quite rapidly and the 3.0 -2.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 that had been so effective against the Stars on the 22nd in the round robin game found themselves down by four at the 2:28 mark against the Bunnell, Brooks, Jenkins and De Young line (3.0 - 2.5 - 2.0 - 0.5). The High/Low line up came in and with the inspired play of Dale Nording that deficit quickly was erased as we scored the last four goals of the period. The last goal was scored with seven seconds left and we barely missed scoring again after a Whitehead steal who relayed a pass to Nording who couldn’t reach the goal line before the buzzer. The US finished the last 1:43 of the period with O’Connor subbing in for the surprising Bunnell. The second quarter was even until the US scored the last goal with 0:02 seconds to pull ahead 18-17.

The third quarter started with two turnovers and one time out in only 31 seconds of play and we were down three at which point the 3.0 - 2.0 - 2.0 - 1.0 line was sent in but could never get close to the Americans as the US ended the quarter with a three goal lead and the jump ball. In the last quarter, exhausted teams traded goals with only one turnover in this uninspired quarter with the US returning to the key and protecting their lead. The play of RJ Bunnell also made a huge difference in this game as his energy and speed helped carry the US team.

CANADA: 3.0 #7 Nording and # 8 Whitehead, 2.0 #9 Luangkhamdeng and #12 Robinson, 1.5 #4 Schmütz, 1.0 #10 Hirschfield and #3 Publicover, 0.5 #2 Mainguy.

1st Q = 10-10, 2nd Q = 7-8, 3rd Q 6-8, 4th Q = 10-10, Total 33-36


09-24-2005 @ 13:00: Game 7 (Bronze medal game) vs South Africa:

Although much improved, the South Africans are still a long way from being competitive with the big boys. The game was quickly out of hand for the South Africans as we crushed their hopes outscoring them 11-3 in the first quarter in a game where we played many different line ups and beat the South Africans handily to capture the Bronze.

Although it was nice for the boys to get a medal, the disappointment of the cross over loss to the Americans was weighing heavily on the guys and they won’t soon forget that loss.