Red Devils Lose Nailbiter to Spartans in Opener

The Wallaceburg Red Devils Junior B lacrosse team opened their season Saturday on the road in St. Catherines, nearly knocking off the Spartans.

Annually one of the league’s top teams, the Spartans scored the winner midway through the third period and held on despite a late push from Wallaceburg that pulled the final score to 12-11 for the Spartans.

Reid Miller opened and closed the scoring for Wallaceburg. In the first, Miller scored from Branden Lilley and Jordan VanDamme. Miller would score and add two assists in the second, and also collect the Red Devils final tally late in the game, pulling his team within one only seconds before the final buzzer.

After Miller’s first period goal to open the game, the Red Devils fell asleep, allowing the Spartans to score four unanswered goals, followed by another two goals late in the frame to put the Spartans up 6-2 after one. Jordan Durston scored the other first period goal collecting his first of a team high eight points, including three goals and five assists on the night.

Jordan VanDamme also had a strong night offensively for the Wallaceburg Red Devils scoring three goals and adding four assists in the loss. Other Wallaceburg goals went to Branden Lilley and Mitch Burton.

Wallaceburg will now prepare for their 2012 home opener against the Sarnia Pacers this Wednesday, April 25 at 7:00pm, before welcoming Guelph to town April 28.