ORANGEVILLE NORTHMEN Steven Rogers holds his own in front of the St Catharines net in Jr B action at the Tony Rose on Monday night. After dropping a 7-5 decision to Sarnia on Saturday, Orangeville stepped up their game considerably for their game against the Spartans, rolling to a 7-2 victory. The MacMaster Pontiac Buick GMC Northmen currently sit tied for second with Owen Sound, three points back of Elora in the Western Conference Mid-West division Junior B lacrosse standings. Photo/MIKE MALONEY First period jitters soon gave way to second period confidence as the Shelburne Vets kicked off their 2010 summer campaign in style with a convincing 10-3 win over the Innisfil Wolfpack on Friday night.

With their regular home – the CDRC – currently in the middle of renovations, Shelburne opted to shift their home opener to Dundalk where just over a minute into play, the Vets’ Trevor McKee brought the fans to their feet when he teamed up with Josh Menzies and goaltender John Biernes to give the Vets an early 1-0 lead. That lead wouldn't hold for long however as Innisfil stepped up their game scoring first on the power-play then again shorthanded before wrapping up the first with yet another playing even strength to make it 3-1.

Photo/MIKE MALONEY SHELBURNE VETS Josh Menzies does journeyman duty lugging the ball around on a penalty kill in Junior C lacrosse action against Innisfil in Dundalk on Friday night. Between periods, Vets coach Mike Chesterman had a few encouraging words with his players who were obviously experiencing opening night jitters. They quickly settled down and answered the call. Noting how even though they have been practicing for four weeks, Chesterman said that until you get the guys out in a real game on the floor "You can't really bring it all together until then. We were getting a little bit too far to the outside (in the first), we tightened

up - everything worked out.”

And work out it did. Playing 3 on 3, David Irons came up with a loose ball in his own end and, sensing a golden opportunity, dogged

down the centre-line, double faked, then dropped his shot over the shoulder of Innisfil's goalie to make it 3-2 and open the floodgates.

James Shaw tied the score at three just over a minute later with the help of Menzies and it was all Shelburne from that point on.

Jordan Monahan was next up with two of his three on the night, along with Matt Nevills collecting a pair before Irons collected his second and Tyler Greer added a single with 59 seconds remaining the second period make it 9-3 for the Vets heading into the final frame.

Monahan's third and final goal came 27 seconds into the last period off a miscue by the Wolfpack defenders make it 10-3 where the score would remain up until the buzzer sounded to end with a victory recorded for Shelburne.

Speaking after the game, Chesterman was pleased with the effort of his players. Noting how his style of game differs from that played by the team the last two seasons, he liked how their goal production did not just come from one or two players but was a team effort. He also went on to comment on the solid effort from both goaltenders who each had the chance to see some floor time.

Making the trip to Caledon on Tuesday night, the Vets came up against some tougher opposition in the twotime defending league champions, the Caledon Bandits.

Caledon roared out of the gate and wasted no time in building up what may have seemed an insurmountable 5-1 lead, but the Vets dug in and battled back, closing to within one at 6-5 heading into the third.

Swapping goal for goal over the next 19 minutes, the Vets found themselves trailing 9-8 with a minute left to play and opted to pull goalie Dylan Sheard in favour of the extra attacker in search of the equalizer.

But it was not to be this night with Caledon snagging a couple of empty net markers in the final 17 seconds to lift them to the upper side of an 11-8 decision.

Monahan again lead the way for Shelburne with the hat trick while Irons collected a pair for his efforts on the floor. Shaw, Nevills (playing his first game in two years) and Midget call-up Daniel Craig with his first Junior goal rounded out the Vets scoring.

Next on the schedule for Shelburne is the Centre Wellington Warlords, who they hook up with in Fergus on Friday night. Saturday, it's back to the Dundalk Community Centre for an 8 p.m. date with Kingston before treking east to Stroud on Tuesday for a rematch with Innisfil.