After falling short in last year’s Baggataway Cup, John Fitzgerald nears redemption.
The Fonthill native helped the Brock Badgers lacrosse team defeat a feisty McMaster Marauders squad Sunday afternoon.
“I thought we played pretty well despite the slow start,” Fitzgerald said. “When we needed to score, our boys stepped up and finished the game.”
Marauders kept the game close – holding onto a lead early – before the Badgers’ offence dominated the final quarter. The win advanced them into next weekend’s Canadian University Field Hockey Association (CUFLA) semi-finals in Oshawa.
Fitzgerald, third-year player, provided a strong defensive presence during the Badgers near-perfect season. They finished 11-1 after a late season overtime loss to the defending champions.
“Losing like that was really tough,” Fitzgerald said of the Oct. 26 loss to Guelph. “They beat us last year in the championship, so it gives us a lot more motivation to beat them in the playoffs this season.”
The rematch may take place this weekend with the Badgers awaiting the winner of Guelph and Bishop University on Friday.
Winning is nothing new to the program.
Back in the 1980s, the Badgers captured six-straight championships. They created another lacrosse dynasty in 2001, winning six-straight championships again.
Badgers last won the Baggataway Cup in 2009, followed by their longest drought since the cup’s inauguration in 1985.
That pedigree of success in the CUFLA playoffs, drew Fitzgerald to the Badgers in 2012, after he finished his junior lacrosse career with the Welland Raiders.
“I had a bunch of friends from Pelham playing alongside me in that program, which really helped my game develop to where it is today.”
An increase in his playing time each of his three seasons for the Badgers had paid off for coaches this year. He finished with a personal best season with three goals and four assists.
Fitzgerald said it’s not about the personal statistics that have made this season so successful. It’s the chemistry among the men.
“We’re a group of guys who are close on and off the field so that adds to the chemistry factor. Everyone has such a positive attitude on this team, and that follows us onto the field.”
Brock will play the winner of the Bishop and Guelph match-up on Nov. 8. Winner of that game will go onto play in the Baggataway Cup final the following day. For full results, visit www.gobadgers.ca.
