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33 |Thursday August 24, 2 0 1 7 | OAKVILLE BEAVER |www.insidehalton.com Kevin Nagel, Oakville Beaver Sports Editor, knagel@burlingtonpost.com Sports P R O V i N C i A L C H A M P i "Connected to your Community O N S " The O akville H awks w on th e OLA m id g e t A ch a m p io n sh ip Sunday. Team m e m b e rs are: Aden W alsh, Ryan Fitzgerald, A lton M cD e rm ott, Ben Doherty, Brad S om ers, Bryce Cordingley, Chris D ong, C onnor S m ith, C urtis G oddard, Gavin Snow, Jack Follows, Jack Travassos, Jonathan G agliardi, Justin Sykes, m atth e w W right, m icha e l Ja ckm a n, O liver B eckett, ry a n O'h ara, v in c e n t m ila n to n i, Zan d e r Alsace, co a che s B ob Sykes, m ark Follows a n d Troy Cordingley, tra in e r r o b Travassos a n d m an a g e r h e id i Follows. | photo submitted Oakville team finishes season 41-1 with a victory over hamilton Bengals in Ola provincial final By Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver staff The Oakville midget lacrosse Hawks came within one game of a perfect season, but it may well have been the one blemish on their 41-1 season that led to their biggest achievement. Early in the season, the Hawks rolled to an easy 10-1 win over Orangeville. The Hawks had looked unbeatable to that point. But the following week, Oakville was tripped up by the same Orangeville team, which handed the Hawks a 5-4 loss. "It took us by surprise," said the Hawks' Justin Sykes. "I was happy that it happened early in the season. It helped us see what we needed to learn." "It was probably the best thing that could have happened," said Hawks' coach Troy Cordingley. "They never took anything for granted after that." And they never lost again. Sunday, the Hawks capped their season with their sec ond Ontario Lacrosse Association provincial championship in three years, downing the Hamilton Bengals 4-2 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. "I was indescribable," said Sykes, who was named tournament MVE "It was awesome to celebrate with my best friends and achieve something we had worked so hard for." Despite dominating play, the Hawks trailed Hamilton 2-1, but Cordingley felt it was only a matter of time before Oakville broke through. It finally did when Sykes tied the game in the second period and shortly after Brad Somers put the Hawks in front. Early in the third, Alton McDermott added an in surance goal and the Hawks' stingy defence took over from there. "Our athleticism really stood out," Cord ingley said. "We pressed the ball carrier all over the floor. We were very aggressive on the ball and took time away from them. The work ethic of our guys was second to none." Against the best teams in the province, Oakville goalies Aden Walsh and Ryan Fitzgerald allowed just nine goals in five games. The Hawks opened the tournament with a 4-0 win over Whitby, beat Peterborough 6-1 and then topped Nepean 8-3. In the semifi nals, Oakville doubled Guelph 6-3. In the final, Curtis Goddard, who was named to the tournament all-star team, gave Oakville an early lead, but the Hamilton goal ie came up with several big saves to keep the Hawks at bay as the Bengals took the lead. "It was the toughest game we've had all year but the kids matched their intensity," Cordingley said. "We limited their opportu nities and we had a lot of quality shots so you knew the ball was eventually going to drop. With this group, there was no panic what soever." That comes with a group that has been together for 10-plus years. The Hawks were provincial peewee A silver medallists in 2013, won the Ontario bantam A title in 2015 and as a minor midget team last year made the midget final six. "Troy was a good influence on us," Sykes said. "He created a brotherhood. We'd do whatever it takes to win for each other." The team also holds a special place for the Hawks' coach, especially as they wrap up their minor lacrosse careers. "It could be because I've been with this group since paperweight -- 10 or 11 years. You grow attached to them. You see them de velop into young men," Cordingley said. "It's a great way to go out. It's the best group I've ever coached, at any level." Coming from someone who has coached at the highest level and led the Toronto Rock to the National Lacrosse League champion ship, that's a pretty strong endorsement. Other members of the Hawks' champion ship team are Ben Doherty, Bryce Cordingley, Chris Dong, Connor Smith, Gavin Snow, Jack Follows, Jack Travassos, Jonathan Gagliardi, Matthew Wright, Michael Jackman, Oliver Beckett, Ryan O'Hara, Vincent Milantoni, Zander Alsace, coaches Bob Sykes and Mark Follows, trainer Rob Travassos and manager Heidi Follows.