ORANGEVILLE 2 BANTAM Northmen found themselves up an equally determined Brampton squad on Sunday afternoon. Playing in Toronto, the Excelsiors edged Orangeville 5-4 in U15 Boys Ontario Minor Field Lacrosse League action. Photo/MIKE MALONEY After a rocky start to their season in game one, the MacMaster Pontiac Buick GMC Northmen are starting to shape up nicely and showing signs of possibly being strong playoff contenders in 2010.

Five games into their regular 20 game season Junior B schedule, the Northmen sit second in the Mid-West division standings with a 3-2 record, just two points back of Elora.

The week started off on a positive note for Orangeville last Wednesday night against the Six Nations Rebels. Heavily favored to be a top contender for this years Founders Cup, Six Nations players found themselves in tough against a Northmen squad that has really started coming together over the last two weeks.

Down 3-2 at the end of one, Orangeville put the Nations on notice that they were not about to be intimidated either on the floor or on the scoreboard by the Rebels.

Going slash for slash, cross check for cross check and punch for punch, the Northmen also managed to tally a trio of unanswered markers to take a 5-3 lead into the final 20 minutes of play.

The Six Nations machine however wielded the hotter stick in the third. Adding 6, including 3 in the last four minutes of play, to take a hard fought 9-5 battle.

Orangeville goal scorers included Andrew Stoner, Steven Rogers, Dustin Caravello along with Travis and Jayme Szabolcs each recording singles.

Saturday night it was the Wallaceburg Red Devils taking over the visitors bench of the Tony Rose arena. Mike Fournier got his first crack at defending the Northmen net.

Trading goal for goal through the first two periods of play to go into the final frame tied at 3-3 on goals from Niall Caravello and two from Travis Szabolcs, Orangeville waited until the third before they cranked it up.

Teaming up with Ace McNutt, James Shepard scored his first of the season before Caravello chipped in with his second and Jayme Szabolcs dropped what would turn out to be the game winner at 15:01.

Wallaceburg countered with two late in the game but Orangeville wasn't about to give this one up, tightening up the defense and riding the clock out to a 6-5 win.

Monday night it was division rivals Owen Sound in the house.

Out to send a message, the Northmen took the lead early and never looked back.

Niall Caravello set the pace for Orangeville just over two minutes into the opening frame, scoring short handed before McNutt and Shepard each added markers over the next four minutes.

Owen Sound would counter with a pair but Dustin Caravello added one more to end the first with Orangeville leading 4-2. Second period play saw tempers starting to flare but a much more disciplined Northmen squad than in seasons past refused to take the bait.

Two more Northmen goals - one from Rogers, the other by Shepard offset a lone Owen Sound Marker to widen Orangeville's lead to 6-3 heading into the third where a pair of quick shorthanded Northmen goals by Dustin Caravello and Travis Szabolcs seemed to totally deflate their guests.

Owen Sound managed to sneak one more past Curtis Rydall in the Orangeville net before Niall Caravello wrapped up the scoring at 10:49 making it 9-4 where the score would remain until the final buzzer.

Speaking after Monday nights game, Orangeville assistant coach acknowledged the new emphasis on discipline in the Northmen dressing room. Noting how senseless penalties have proved costly in the past. He points how they are stressing to the players that toughness isn't just going over the boards to fight, it's the mental toughness as well. "You may have to take a whack or two and not retaliate, its going to hurt but you have to play smart and show mental toughness as well."

One player he points out that has stepped up to show leadership in this department is veteran Aaron McNutt. "Ace is leader on this team, everyone loves this guy. For him to go out there and show this kind of leadership and discipline - others are sure to follow".

And it is something that McNutt definitely seems to have bought into. While he will be one of the last ones to ever to back down "It's all about discipline" he says, "It's the final score that counts".

Orangeville has two more games scheduled for the Tony Rose, first at 7 p.m. against Sarnia on Saturday and then Monday night at 8 p.m. against Spartan before heading off to Elora for a game with the Mohawks on Wednesday.