October 20, 2007 CSL St Catharines Wolves pre-semi final story (from The St Catharines Standard)
Veteran enjoying a new experience
Posted By JIM WALLACE
Geoff Attard is moving into some uncharted territory. The veteran St. Catharines Wolves fullback has been a mainstay on the team's defence this year and is experiencing his first playoff run. The Burlington native wasn't with the Wolves when they won their last playoff championship five years ago, but also isn't getting too excited after the club's nail-biting penalty-kick win over the Canadian Lions Sunday.
"That was kind of the discussion at the end (of Sunday's game)," he said prior to a workout this week at the Niagara Falls Sportsplex. "It was only one of three and we still haven't accomplished our goal."
Many may remember the Wolves' goal during this rebuilding year was simply to improve and take a shot at the playoffs after five years of straight misses. Now, Attard said, they want more.
"Our goal at the start of the season was to make the playoffs or win a playoff game, but why settle for that now? It's a one-game crapshoot."
The Wolves take on Toronto Croatia at Esther Shiner Stadium in Toronto today at 4 p.m. A win puts them into the championship final Oct. 28.
And although the Wolves lost 1-0 at home and 2-1 at the Hershey Centre, Attard likes the team's chances against Croatia.
"They were both one-goal games and they never really outplayed us," he said. "We have to go out early. We're a second-half team that gains confidence as the game goes by.
"If we can hold on for the first half, we can pressure them in the second and be physical, I think we'll be fine."
Head coach James McGillivray agrees his charges shouldn't do anything different than what they've done over the past eight or 10 games.
"Honestly, I don't think we need to do anything different," he said. "The way we've been playing since that stretch of four games where we played Italia twice, Serbia and Trois-Rivieres, from that point on, we have really worked hard as a group.
"I think we'll outwork Croatia and even though we haven't had the greatest results on turf, I think with the weather the way it is and the fields the way they are, we'll be fine."
McGillivray said Sunday's win was more than just a game that put the Wolves into the league semifinal. After battling through 90 minutes of regulation time and two 15-minute overtime periods, St. Catharines prevailed in 14 penalty kicks, winning 10-9 when goalkeeper Claudio Perri stopped the final kick.
"It was another one of those morale-building games," McGillivray said. "Winning a game like that goes a little deeper than just the score."
He's also pleased players like Attard and Perri are into their first playoff, along with Carlo Arghittu and Danny Gallagher, who played on the last championship team.
"He's one of the guys I'm most happy for," he said of Attard. "They've been here for a while and now they've got themselves to the point where they're playing for something more."
And playing for each other. McGillivray has been consistent throughout the year, never wavering from what he expected from the team and what the team could give back.
"It was a different attitude from Day 1," Attard said, "a different mindset, a consistency. In the past, you might have had three or four players come in, then three or four different players.... He's held everybody accountable - you had to go out and do your job.
"I thank James for everything he's done. The 16 core players are the 16 players who will be taking the field Saturday."
jwallace@stcatharinesstandard.ca
Article ID# 743290
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