38 Sports Oakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 255) Fax 905-337-5567 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com · WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2006 Over and out Rea's return pays off for Buzz Jr. B lacrosse team two wins away from undefeated season By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF B rian Rea kept his lacrosse equipment in storage last year, opting instead to travel around Europe. This summer, Rea hauled his equipment out of the closet and again hopes to be doing a lot of traveling, this time around Ontario with his Oakville Buzz teammates. The undefeated Buzz is looking forward to a long playoff run, and with good reason. An 8-4 victory Sunday over the Halton Hills Bulldogs was Oakville's 18th consecutive Ontario Lacrosse Association Jr. B win, setting a team record for points in a season. "I love to travel and it was something I needed to do," Rea said of his European vacation. "But I missed (lacrosse). I love it." The Buzz is certainly glad to have Rea in the lineup, especially after he delivered a hat trick in Sunday's victory over Halton Hills. He scored two of Oakville's six second-period goals as the Buzz pulled away from its South East Division rivals. Rea's health improving Rea is also happy to be playing as his return to lacrosse was complicated when he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a disorder that causes an inflammation of the digestive tract, last year. Because of the heat Sunday, Rea wasn't even sure if he was going to suit up for the game against Halton Hills. But he said lacrosse helps keeps his mind off his health -- which he said is improving -- and he was certainly focused Sunday. His third marker capped a run of four goals in six minutes and gave him 30 for the year, his first full season of junior lacrosse. However, the Bulldogs stayed in the game by blanking the Buzz in the third. "They've got a strong defence,"Rae said. "It's hard for them coming in against us but they always play us well." Goaltender playing with confidence The Buzz defence wasn't too shabby either, lowering its league-best goals-against average to 4.8. Goalie Gary Muzzin, coming off his first allstar game appearance on Saturday, held a good offensive team in check. "They shoot from everywhere and they just keep firing," said the second-year netminder. "They're a team with a lot of big shooters so you just have to step out on their shots a little more." "Muz is playing with confidence," added coach Glen Little. "We told him he was the number one this year and I think that's the first time he's ever been told that. He's responded and we've been on a nice run. But it's been everything, tremendous defence to the offence, it's been a total team effort." Those team efforts also paid off in a pair of recent 9-5 victories over the Scarborough Saints and the Mimico Mountaineers. The Buzz needed six goals in the second period as it erased a 4-2 deficit against Scarborough last Tuesday. Brenden Thenhaus, who also played in the all-star game, had three goals and two assists. Sean Thomson had two goals and two assists and Bryan Johnson also had a pair of goals. Chris Moulson and Dan GRAHAM PAINE / OAKVILLE BEAVER GOING DOWN: Toronto Lady Lynx forward Deana Everrett, a product of the Oakville Soccer Club, tries to avoid sliding Laval Comets keeper Marie-Pier Bilodeau during Sunday's W-League soccer match in Etobicoke. The contest ended in a scoreless draw. See Thenhaus page 39 ATTENTION: HOUSE LEAGUE COACHES MARK YOUR CALENDARS TO ATTEND OUR WEEKLY COACHING SESSIONS BEGINNING THIS WEEK!! U8/U9 COACHES: FRIDAYS PINE GLEN #5 U10-U12 COACHES: SATURDAYS ST. THOMAS AQUINAS HIGH SCHOOL Check Website for Complete Details! WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY COMES TO OAKVILLE! EVERTON LADIES FC vs. DEFENDING ONTARIO CUP CHAMPIONS - OAKVILLE STORM WHEN: JUNE 30, 2006 PINE GLEN FIELD PRE-GAME ACTIVITIES: 6:00PM · GAME TIME: 7:00PM TICKETS AVAILABLE AT OAKVILLE SOCCER CLUB CELEBRATE CANADA DAY WEEKEND BY SUPPORTING YOUR OAKVILLE SENIOR LADIES TEAM! 504 Iroquois Shore Rd., Unit #11, Oakville, ON L6H 3K4 Tel: 905-849-4436 Fax: 905-849-3677 The Oakville Beaver A Proud Sponsor of Oakville Soccer Club