Crease Monkeys win 3rd title in four years

In what could only be described as a thoroughly dominant performance, the Crease Monkeys successfully defended their PNLA title and drank from the Everett Smith Cup.
 
By Mark Masterson
 
The Men’s Club season shaped up to be a three horse race as the playoffs arrived, with only three teams carrying winning records for the 2006 season. By finishing with the #2 seed, the Crease Monkeys road to the title went through the fellas from John Bs bar in Vancouver, while Portland’s spot in the final was dependent on taking down Seattle Lacrosse Club.
 
So away we went…..On a beautiful spring weekend, the table was set at Queen Anne Bowl, the smell of hot dogs was rich in the air and mixed with an odious scent of burning rubber on the field turf. The crowds were in full voice and players were game.
 
In the opening A-game of the weekend, Portland took down Seattle 9-5. Portland entered the game with a league best 11-1 record – missing out on a perfect regular season by losing their final home game of the season. However, they rediscovered their mojo in the semi finals with two early goals before Seattle could find twine with eight minutes left in the 1st quarter. After that however, it was all Portland, as they finished the 2nd quarter with a 3-0 run to make it 5-1 at half time. The 2nd half found Portland relying on their 1st half cushion as the two teams traded goals – and a mini 2-goal run by Seattle made it 7-4, but that is the closest Seattle would get. With Portland punching their ticket to the final, all they had to do was sit back, quaff some PBRs and wait for the bottom half of the semi-finals to determine their opponent the next day.
 
In the afternoon game, the Crease Monkeys and Vancouver faced off in the rubber match of the season. The visiting team won both games this year – but the Vegas line was on the home team this weekend. The CMs played some of their best ball of the season in the semi-finals, as the defense was stifling, the goaltending superb and the scoring was well balanced. The Monkeys were playing with a purpose and their intensity demonstrated that they were intent to defend their Cup. The team concept was the story of the day with seven different players finding the back of the net in a 12-3 win. Now all they had to do was beat a Portland team that they had lost both games to in the regular season. That is what Villanova was saying against Georgetown in 1984….
 
The PNLA Finals
In the finals, the Crease Monkeys were able to deliver the finest performance of the club season. I wish that I could describe a back and forth game that hinged on a few key plays, but that wasn’t the case. The Monkeys dominated the possession – turning face-off wins into long possessions that resulted in goals. The 1st quarter was all it took for the Monkeys to solve Portland and effectively put the game on ice. The Monks raced out to another early lead – this one a 7-0 advantage in the 1st quarter. Rather than sitting back and let Portland back in the game, the CMs continued to demonstrate solid transition play, settled offense and lethal finishing. The cuts and feeds were there, the dodges and suffocating defense. When Portland did manage to possess the ball and create opportunities, the Monkey slide package was quick to adapt and snuff out the half chances. The scoreboard worked overtime in this game as the Monkeys prevailed 18-3. Even though it was a lopsided result, the game was played with a level of sportsmanship commensurate with the occasion.
 
Immediately following the game, the Everett Smith Cup was filled with some Colt .45 and the celebration was on.
           
 
Notes
Special props have to go out the guys from Vancouver. Not only are they great sports and fantastic competitors, but also are the rowdiest and loudest fans on the sidelines. Rather than head home after the semi-finals, the boys stayed the night and by 12:30 on Sunday  were already seen “shooting the boot”. If you want instructions on shooting the boot, ask Mikey. We look forward to seeing our lax brethren at the Victoria Summer Slam in late August.