The Estevan Big Dogs continue to seek their first win after a pair of losses at home on the weekend.
The Big Dogs were defeated 15-8 on Saturday by the Prince Albert Predators and 18-10 on Sunday by the Saskatoon Smash.
Estevan now sits at 0-4 in the Prairie Gold Lacrosse League standings.
"When you play most of the game shorthanded, it's a tough game to play. A lot of the same kids are playing a lot and they're exhausted," said Big Dogs coach Evan Handley.
"Younger guys like Rhett (Handley), Ty Currie, Tanner Froese, those guys aren't big bodies so when they're running out there getting hammered and beat on, it's a long day for them."
Dylan Smith led the Big Dogs on Sunday with four goals and an assist. Handley and Mark Moriarty each potted two goals, with Handley adding three helpers.
Ryan Curzon and Marshall Holzer had the other Estevan markers. Holzer chipped in with four assists.
Spencer Murphy and Sam Murphy led the Smash with four goals apiece. Levi Dziadyk, Brandon Murphy and Kael Naylor each scored two, and Cody Schwan, Nic Boyko, Logan Fischer and Wyatt Goldade added singles.
Along with all the goals, Sunday's affair featured no shortage of penalties and rough play, particularly in the third.
"I know we went onto the second scoresheet," said Handley. "If they want to play that way, I already told them we'll play that way next weekend (in Saskatoon)."
The Big Dogs were the better team at times on Sunday, but couldn't hold that momentum.
"We had a couple of mental breakdowns again. We let them score three or four goals back door, just nobody there. If we watch that, it's a lot closer of a game," said Handley.
"We outplayed them significantly in the first period, I thought, and we just made some mistakes and we let them get back into the game."
The home side led 2-0 early in the game, but allowed the Smash to get back into it and take a 5-4 lead to the intermission.
Saskatoon had a banner second period, scoring eight goals to Estevan's five to take a 13-9 advantage into the third period.
And a chippy period it was, with a combined 54 penalty minutes 小蓝视频 handed out to the two clubs.
On Saturday, the Big Dogs were still in the hunt after two periods, trailing 8-5, but the Predators exploded for seven goals in the final frame.
"We play really well and then we fall asleep for five or six minutes," said Handley.
"They scored on four straight faceoffs. Exact same play, same kids doing it, and it's just mental breakdowns."
Smith, Handley and Curzon each scored twice for Estevan. Moriarty and Jesse Malaryk also found the net.
The Big Dogs will be in Saskatoon on Saturday to face the Smash and the Steelers. On Sunday, they face the Predators in Prince Albert.
Their next home game is June 17 against the Moose Jaw Mustangs.
