NORTHMEN VETERAN Cody Richardson does crowd control in his own end during game five action in Six Nations on Friday night. Despite a spirited effort by the men in black, the Arrows defeated Orangeville 114, ending their 2006 season. Photo/MIKE MALONEY It was far from the finish they envisioned when they kicked off their 2006 season at the start of May.

On Friday night, the Rayburn Construction Junior A Northmen fell by a score of 11-4 to the Six Nations Arrows and in the process, were eliminated from the semi-final round of the Ontario Lacrosse Association playoffs.

"It is a disappointment for sure", said Northmen coach Matt Sawyer. "It's definitely not the way we wanted the season to end."

With their backs to the wall at home last Thursday, the Northmen came up with a gutsy win before a home-town crowd to stave off elimination.

With an injured Mike Poulin starting in goal providing inspiration for the team, Orangeville held off a third period rally by the Arrows to post an 11-8 win and force game five back in Six Nations the following night.

That game started well for the Northmen.

A cross crease pass from Nathan Sanderson was converted by Brady Campbell into a shot

between the legs of Arrows starter Ben VanEvery to put Orangeville into an early lead just seconds into the opening frame.

Not to be outdone in their own barn, Six Nations responded with four of their own before Cody Richardson would cut the deficit to two with 16 seconds to play in the first.

The Nations turned up the heat through the second, adding four more while Sanderson would notch what would be the final goal in his junior career, a diving shot across the Arrows net.

Unlike game six against St Catharines, this time there would be no third period, come from behind, rally for Orangeville.

Arrow goals from Lee Thomas, Jerome Thompson combined with an empty netter late in dying minutes sealed the fate of the Northmen season.

Appropriately, it was Northmen captain Daryl Veltman that scored the final Orangeville goal, three minutes into the period, capping off his career with the team.

Sawyer was not about to point fingers or make excuses for the loss. Acknowledging their slow start to the season and injury problems throughout, he was proud of the team for the character they had shown, their bouncing back and the dedication of both time and effort from everyone involved in the organization from players to volunteers. On a personal level he feels bad at not being able to be the guy "to lead this group of twenty-oneyear olds to a championship".

This season also marks the end for nine of the players who will be going over age this year.

In addition to Veltman and Campbell who lead that list, other gradutaing vets include Nic Mastine, Anthony Lackey, Jordan Armstrong, Jamie Kirk as well as Matt Campbell.

As mentioned, Nate Sanderson will be one of those also not returning next year.

A Northmen from the start of his junior career, Sanderson came up through the Orangeville Minor system and first wore the Junior A colours as a Midget call-up.

Looking back on his time with the team he said, "It's a sad day when you can't play for the black and silver anymore. This is the greatest organization," he went on to express his gratitude for the years with the team, "I want to thank everyone, the coaching staff, the trainers, my team mates and all the volunteers and wish them all the best of luck in the future."

Last but definitely not least, the final player that won't be returning next season is goalie Mike Poulin. Originally from Kitchener,

Poulin joined the team two years ago consistently being a team leader. Noted as one of the top goaltenders in the league, he was also nominated to the All-Star team two years in a row while with Orangeville.

Poulin may exemplify what spirit lay at the heart of a Northmen. Injured in game two of this series, having to be carried from the floor, he returned to play the first and second periods of game four - obviously hurt but still putting in one of his best games.

While a NLL career is a definite option, Poulin says he would like to stay close to the team in the future, possibly in a coaching position.

In one of the more elegant summations of what it means to be a Northmen and of the franchise he said, "It has been the best two

years of my life as a lacrosse player. When you sit back and anyone asks where you would want to play ball, there are only two possible answers, at home before your home town or here in Orangeville, the best lacrosse town anywhere."