Snipers down Outlaws to register first win of the season

SNIPERS DOWN OUTLAWS TO REGISTER THEIR FIRST VICTORY OF THE SEASON

By Sam Laskaris

Jeremy Bomberry certainly made his presence felt in his return to lacrosse.

Bomberry scored five goals and also an assist as the Six Nations Snipers defeated the visiting Oshawa Outlaws 18-13 in an Arena Lacrosse League (ALL) contest on Sunday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA).

Bomberry has last played a game in April of 2022. He had helped the Snipers win the ALL championship that spring.

Though he sat out the last two years, Bomberry decided to return to the Snipers this season.

“I just missed the game and I missed the guys on the floor,” he said. “I always knew I was coming back. I just needed to take a break.”

Bomberry said he was keen to spend time with his family the last couple of years. He’s engaged and the couple have a three-year-old daughter. Plus, he was looking to let his body recover from the rigours of playing lacrosse.

Bomberry had scored a total of six goals in eight games during the 2022 campaign with the Snipers.

So netting five goals in one game on Sunday was a bit surprising for him.

“I was just trying to play my game and get used to playing with my new teammates,” he said.

But he also knew that he would be able to compete in the ALL once again despite his two-year hiatus.

“I stayed in shape by working out and running and having a stick in my hand almost every day,” he said.

With the victory, the Snipers evened their record at 1-1 this season. Bomberry had not played in Six Nations’ season-opening 17-13 loss against the host Brampton Express on Dec. 6.

“We really needed that win,” Bomberry said of his club’s W against the Outlaws. “I feel like it’s definitely a step in the right direction.”

Darcy Powless, the Snipers’ head coach, was obviously pleased to see Bomberry bury his share of scoring opportunities.

“The ball was following him around,” Powless said. “But we had contributions from all over.”

Briley Maxwell had a team-high seven points in the contest. He scored four goals and added three assists.

And Tye Argent also had a six-point performance. Argent scored once and was also credited with five helpers.

Seven other Six Nations players also scored. Rookie Avery Steinbach-Parker popped in a pair of goals for the Snipers.

And singles were provided by Chayton King, Wes Whitlow, Jerry Staats, Mitch Zulian, Eric Poirier and Kinori Sugihara.

“We scored even-strength goals, powerplay goals and goals in transition,” Powless said. “It was a total team effort, from back to front.”

Netminder Dusty Hill picked up the W between the pipes for the Snipers.

Six Nations’ next game is set for Dec. 29 at the ILA. The Snipers will host the Peterborough Timbermen in a 4 p.m. match.