Team Lia finishes the 2019 playoffs like they finished the 2019 regular season…as undisputed champions!….

In the early, undercard game, both teams had surprisingly good bench numbers considering their struggles through the regular season. Team Dirka got off to an early start outscoring Team Sharley 5-1 in the 1st period. The 2nd period was similar with Team Dirka running up a substantial lead 10-3 by the end of the period. Team Sharley put up a good fight in the 3rd, wining the period 4-1, threatening a monumental come back but it was too little, too late and Team Dirka ran out the clock on an 11-8 victory. With the victory Team Dirka move on from their 3 year ownership of the UsedBedPan trophy and takes possession of the BobbleHeadDoll trophy instead. On the other hand, in a precipitous fall from the heights, Team Sharley has to give up their 2 year reign on top of the LMHLL heap and take ownership of the odorous OldUsedBedpan trophy.

In the marquee matchup, Team Lia showed no mercy right from the initial face-off scoring early and often to send a message to their opponents. By the midpoint of the 1st period Team Lia was up 4-1 with DylanE on fire and leading the way. Ahead 5-1 at the end of the 1st and 6-2 at the end of 2, it was (almost) a foregone conclusion that Team Lia would have an easy return to the championship podium. But lacrosse is a funny game, Team Jacquie kept picking away in the 3rd, scoring once, then again and finally a third time to pull pull within a goal as the game drew to a close. Could they tie it up and force OT?… Unfortunately not this year, the Lias score an insurance goal to dash the TeamJ hopes and then added a couple of empty net goals to end the game Team Lia 9 – Team Jacquie 5. The game was much closer than the final score indicates…. a good game, lots of speed and passing, fun for all involved.

So…. 2019 LMHLL MemorialBraggingRightsUsedBallOf(3M)Tape Championship Team….. Team Lia!

After the obligatory back pats and fist bumps, a bunch of the participants retired to the Alibi to discuss 2019 performance bonus payments and upcoming 2020 free agency. Overall, a pretty good year despite some attendance issues for a couple of the teams … some things will have to be addressed next year. Hopefully, a bit of exercise and good healthy fun for 20 weeks of Wednesdays.

Watch this space for the upcoming 2019 LMHLL Gala Awards reveal as well as news of London winter lax floor time plans.

G2