26 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR:JONKUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012 Buzz doubled up by unbeaten Gaels The Oakville Buzz was doubled up 12-6 by the Clarington Green Gaels Friday at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre, the Buzz's only action of the long weekend. Colton Watkinson scored twice in a losing cause for the Buzz, which dropped to 4-3-1 on the Ontario Lacrosse Association junior B campaign. Oakville surrendered seven of the first nine goals in the contest against the undefeated Gaels (7-0-1), just over a week after earning a 7-7 draw in Clarington. Jared McHenry, Ryan Callaghan, Eddie Renaud and Sam Neeb also scored for Oakville, with Greg Campbell notching two assists. Ian Duffy started in goal for the Buzz before being relieved by D.J. Eckert. After beginning the season with just eight games in 28 days, the Buzz will see its schedule intensify over the next month. Oakville will play three home games this weekend at Glen Abbey to kick off a stretch that will see the Buzz play 12 times in 25 days. The Mississauga Tomahawks will travel to Oakville Friday for an 8 p.m. start, followed by visits from the Akwesasne Indians (Saturday, 7 p.m.) and Kahnawake Hunters (Sunday, 2 p.m.). Sr. B Titans rebound after lopsided loss It was a weekend of extreme opposites for the Oakville Titans. The senior B lacrosse squad allowed a season-high 21 goals in a 21-12 loss Friday in St. Catharines, then rebounded two days later to defeat the Huntsville Hawks 13-7 in Huntsville. Mike Gillan had two goals and two assists for the Titans in Friday's loss to the league-leading Saints. Jeff Sehl and Shane Scott each added a pair of goals and a helper, with Kyle Andrews chipping in a goal and three assists. Kyle Humber, Stu Gordom, Miller Rusbridge, Sean Deuchars and Ken Coulson also tallied for Oakville. John Preece took the loss in net. Sunday, the Titans (4-3) moved back into second place in the league standings with their win over the Hawks. Scott led the way with four goals and two assists, while Deuchars (one goal, three assists) and Desousa (two goals, one helper) also enjoyed productive afternoons. Cam Monroe, Mark White, Gillan, Sehl, Andrews and Coulson added singles in support of goaltender Scott Robinson, who earned the win. The Titans will return to action Saturday with a visit to the Brooklin Merchants. Oakville is not scheduled to play at home again until Sunday, June 10, when it will host the Sarnia Beavers at Glen Abbey Recreation Centre. PHOTO COURTESY OF CANOE/KAYAK CANADA Burloak paddler back on top of podium By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLEBEAVERSTAFF Burloak Canoe Club paddler Mallorie Nicholson won the canoeing singles 200-metre race at Sunday's International Canoe Federation World Cup event in Poland. For much of her paddling career, Mallorie Nicholson dominated the national championships, often winning both the junior and senior division races. In recent years, with the emergence of 20-year-old Laurence Vincent-Lapointe, victories have not been as easy to come by. That has also limited the 25-year-old Nicholson's opportunities for international competition. While she's been successful in the C-2 (canoe pairs) -- winning the world championships with Vincent-Lapointe last year -- Nicholson was beginning to wonder if she would ever experience the same success as an individual. She answered that question Sunday with a victory in the C-1 200m at the International Canoe Federation World Cup in Poznan, Poland. "The fact that up until (Sunday) I didn't have an international win in singles outside of Pan Ams weighed on me a little bit," Nicholson said by e-mail from Poland. "Laurence has been such a strong C-1 paddler the last couple years that despite my best efforts I wasn't able to make it to the top of the podium. I was starting to think I would never see it again." Nicholson made it to the top step by turning in a time of 52.781 seconds, edging Vincent-Lapointe -- the reigning world champion -- by .164 seconds. Ironically, it was turning her focus away from results that led to Nicholson's international breakthrough. "I have been really trying to change my focus in racing away from the competition aspect and instead focus on myself and my own feeling in the boat and think about racing like I am trying to paddle the best that I possibly can for 200 metres," Nicholson said. "I don't look at the other competitors or think about where I am or where I'll finish. That has also made it a lot easier to race against Laurence because the focus is on me rather than her as a competitor." Benefitting from her experience at last year's worlds, Nicholson said she felt much more comfortable at the World Cup, allowing herself to be relaxed and not overwhelmed by her surroundings. After her victory in C-1, Nicholson added a second gold medal later in the day by teaming up with Vincent-Lapointe to win the C-2 500m. While many of her Burloak Canoe Club teammates were working to secure spots in London at the World Cup event, women's canoeing remains a non-Olympic event. Nicholson said the sport still has many obstacles to overcome to be included in Rio in 2016. See Burloak, page 28