The Innisfail Bantam Co-op Phantoms have finished up the regular lacrosse season with a 9-2-1 record.
“We are currently in first place but other teams still have games to play,” said coach Graham Johnston in an email, predicting they'd end up third in the season behind undefeated teams from Didsbury and Kneehill.
The last game of their season saw the Phantoms win 7-1 even with the top two scorers not playing and a goalie fighting a large sunburn, Johnston said.
Johnston said many of his team members are first-year lacrosse players and others are first-year bantams. He said that makes the team's good season even more rewarding.
“They have bought into the team concept that to win everyone has to do their part,” Johnston said.
“We have improved continuously throughout the year and are looking forward to playoffs,” he said.
The players all got equal playing time throughout the season with the exception of a few games with a set power play, penalty kill or last minutes of play, Johnston said.
“We have our work cut out for us, as to move on we have to beat two established teams who are both undefeated so far in league play,” Johnston said of playoffs. “The kids are ready to advance to the next step of more advanced offensive play.”
Johnston said the team also must remain consistent with the great team defensive effort from the past games.
