A critical loss of focus Oct. 30 saw the Wellesley Appleejacks drop a 7-3 decision to the Hagersville Hawks. After driving hard through two periods, the wheels fell off the bus and Hagersville scored four unanswered goals in the third period.
It was the Jacks who found the net first, just past the midway point of the first period. Justin Milne carried the puck along the boards and fired a snap shot from the faceoff circle, blasting the rubber past keeper Rob Porter.
Hagersville’s Derek Medeiros tied the score less than two minutes later, notching the Hawks’ first marked on a feed from Kyle Abbott.
Eric Parr, with assists from Rob Bolger and Chris Armstrong, put Wellesley out in front again at 16:38. The lead was again short-lived, as Hagersville came back with a goal from Kyle Gardener to tie things at two apiece.
In the second frame, Hagersville pulled ahead with a power play goal by Nick Halliday two minutes in. With two minutes left in the period, Parr notched an unassisted goal, driving down the ice and leaving a defenceman sprawling in his wake as he scored his second of the game.
Hagersville dominated the third period, with goals from Brock McEachern, Gardener, Hayden Baird and Jesse Sommers, leaving the final score 7-3.
“We basically lost our focus in the third period. We didn’t come to play and took six straight penalties and then the game was over,” said head coach Kevin Fitzpatrick. “We really have to work on our mental focus. The least little thing can cost us three points.”
The Jacks were still struggling with a short bench last Friday. Most of the players who had been out with the flu were back in the lineup, but three players were injured over the course of the game.
“By the third period we were down to 14 players,” Fitzpatrick said, adding that they should be back to close to a full roster by the weekend.
The Jacks will need a full, healthy squad as they host Bauer Conference-leading Ayr on Friday and then take on Mt. Brydges Saturday.
