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Jon Kuiperij Sports Editor sports@oakvillebeaver.com Buzz take commanding lead on Gaels by Herb Garbutt Oakville Beaver Staff Sports 11 | Wednesday, July 17, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com "Connected to your Community" Ken Gillies faced every general manager's worst nightmare. With just two games remaining in the Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B regular season, the Oakville Buzz lost starting goalie Brent Noseworthy to a broken ankle. And with the deadline for signing players looming just a week away, Gillies had some busy days ahead. "We were left scrambling and there were not a lot of options," he said. That week, the Buzz played Mississauga and the Tomahawks started an affiliate player in net. Oakville scored 13 times on Jesse Legault, but Gillies saw something in the rookie who had gone 0-5 in eight games. "We had scouted him in minor," said Gillies, who acquired the netminder's rights to back up rookie D.J. Eckert in the playoffs. "He's a big kid who covers a lot of the net." So the Buzz entered the playoffs with two goalies who had a combined three wins and had played a total of nine complete games in junior. Sunday, Legault backstopped the Buzz to an 8-7 win as they took a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five conference semifinal against the east's top team, the Green Gaels. Legault stopped 48 shots in a 6-5 win Saturday as Oakville handed the Gaels their first loss at home this season. Despite its precarious situation in net entering the playoffs, Foster Cuomo -- who scored four times in Sunday's win -- said the Buzz looked forward to facing the Gaels. "This was the series we wanted," said the Hill Academy student. "We lost twice to them but we wanted another chance at them. We're a really young team but from our first game against them, we knew we could compete with them." Despite the teams' vastly different records -- Oakville finished 12-8 while the Gaels were 181-1-- there was reason for the Buzz's optimism. It lost both previous meetings by a single goal. With two more one-goal decisions, the playoffs have done little to dispel the notion there is little separating the teams. Still, the wins mark a big step forward for the Buzz, which rarely had its entire lineup available this season because of injuries and field lacrosse commitments. "I think the team is coming together. We've bonded," said Cuomo. Eckert won Oakville's first-round opener against Mimico but after Legault allowed just one goal in 15 minutes of relief in game two, he's taken over, posting a stellar 6.14 goals-against average and winning three straight starts. Foster Cuomo scored four times as the Oakville Buzz edged the Green Gaels 8-7 Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in their bestof-five Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B playoff series.| Eric Riehl -- Oakville Beaver "We have confidence in both our goalies," Gillies said. "Our defence also deserves credit. They've done a great job keeping guys away from the middle of the floor." Oakville built a 5-2 third-period lead Saturday with the help of Pat Shea's hat trick but the Gaels stormed back to tie the game. But Keyan McQueen scored his second of the game with 2:11 to play to give the Buzz a 6-5 victory. Sunday, the Buzz overcame an early 3-0 deficit. Cuomo, who won national titles with Team Ontario's bantam and midget teams, scored his third late in the second period to tie the game 6-6. The rookie then scored his fourth of the game eight minutes into the third to give Oakville its first lead. The Green Gaels tied the game but Todd Nakasuji's goal with seven minutes remaining stood up as the winner. "It was a great feeling to be able to contribute. I got more assists during the season," said Cuomo, who had 15 goals and 28 assists in 14 regular season games, "but there were so many other people doing things, setting picks, making passes." In other words, everyone was chipping in, even those who were a little late in arriving. Notes: Game three is Thursday in Bowmanville. Game four, if necessary, would be Friday at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre at 8 p.m. With prices this small, open the door to summer. 2013 Passat Midsize Sedan Lease from $329 2.9 % $0 $0 $0 APR per month for 48 months* +HST $691 down payment or equivalent trade-in 1st month payment 2nd month payment 3rd month payment** That's the value of German engineering. CELEBRATE vw.ca Included with every in stock purchase: Two 2013 season green fees at Piper's Heath Golf Club** Purchase a vehicle from Oakville Volkswagen and we will make a Donation to the Oakville Hospital Foundation! *Limited time lease offer available through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit, at participating dealers only, and is based on a new and unregistered 2013 Passat 2.5L model with 5-speed automatic transmission. $1,395 freight and PDI included in monthly payment. 48-month term at 2.9% APR. $380 security deposit and $691 down payment, including $29 EHF (tires), $100 air conditioning levy, $5 OMVIC fee, $58 PPSA fee and up to $499 dealer administrative fee, due at lease inception. Total lease obligation: $15,497. 64,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.15/km for excess kilometres. License, insurance, registration, options and applicable taxes are extra. **$0 fi rst 3 monthly payments available on a 48-month lease (through Volkswagen Finance, on approved credit) of new and unregistered 2013 Passat gas engine models up to a maximum of $400 per month (including taxes). First payment will not be collected; second and third payments will have to be paid by customer, but participating dealers will provide customer with a cheque for these payments (up to $400 per payment) at delivery. Dealer may lease for less. Dealer order/trade may be necessary. Offer ends July 2, 2013 and is subject to change or cancellation without notice. Vehicle may not be exactly as shown. Model shown: Passat 2.5L Highline, with options and accessories, $32,603. Visit your Volkswagen dealer for details. "Volkswagen", the Volkswagen logo, "Das Auto & Design" and "Passat" are registered trademarks of Volkswagen AG. © 2013 Volkswagen Canada.