Venom split weekend with a win and a loss

Times Reporter

 

The Jr. Tier II lacrosse team had a come-from-behind victory in their home opener against the Red Deer Renegades last Friday, with a score of 13-12. Cody Betterton scored with one minute remaining for the tie, and then again 50 seconds later for the win. Betterton contributed more than half of the Venom’s goals, with seven in the game. 

“He played the lights out that night. He was the leader on the team,” Coach Hal Morris said. Betterton also had two assists in the win, and finished the weekend tied for the team lead in points with 17, alongside Hal Morris’ son, Brady.

Saturday’s game against the Lethbridge Barracudas was much tougher for the Venom, as Lethbridge went to the provincial finals last year, and only lost six players from their roster. Brady Morris led the way with a hat trick, but Strathmore still fell 16-6. 

“Unfortunately we were missing lots of key players. We were dealing with lots of tired and injured players since we played the night before,” Hal Morris said. 

Austin Allen and Lucas Bobbitt both took the net, impressing their coach, as they “faced a lot of shots from a very skilled team.”

Though the Venom need to improve in motion offense and more discipline on the defensive end, coach Morris still “expects to finish near the top or top third of our division this year, if not the top.” 

The Strathmore Venom sit 2-2 on the season, with their next game May 10 at 8 p.m. against the Lacoka Locos.