St.Lawrence: 3 vs Mount Pearl : 1

# 8 - Laurentians, Mike Howlett - Keithy Walsh Photo's

Howlett paces St.Lawrence to victory on St.Lawrence Day

When the wind blows from the east on the first Saturday of the month of August, which is St.Lawrence Day, the Laurentian's opponent better have themselves prepared. I can never recall the Laurentians losing on St.Lawrence Day. This year it was no different and it was Mount Pearl going down to a 3-1 defeat on St. Lawrence Day in 2008. What's even more peculiar, that the record, is that the St.Lawrence Soccer Association always make a annual request to the NLSA to have the Laurentian's strongest opponent play them on the, "Communities Special Day." I guess, it's sort of of mid season test for the Laurentian's before the Laurentian's write their final on Labor Day. The players perform on St.Lawrence Day and the fans are are really the judges and they judge the players very hard
The star player of this contest never scored a goal in today's contest but his play scored an "A" by the judges as he was on fire. It was Mike Howlett. Mike dominated and he's starting to win me over more and more each time I see him play as definitely one of the Laurentian all time greats. Mike set up the Rudy Normans goal at the 6 minute mark after blasting a shot. The rebound came outside the 18 yard line and Norman hammered it home, passing by Connolly's outstretched body. From this and onward is was the Laurentian's who pressed. No, Howlett wasn't totally flawless he missed on a glorious chance deep into Mount Pearl territory at the 27 minute mark. Then at the 36 minute mark Jeremy Brenton missed on another great scoring opportunity. The Laurentians basically steamrolled over Mount Pearl for the entire first half but in all fairness to Mount Pearl they were missing two of their star performers John Kelly and Victor Dray.
The second half saw Mount Pearl coming out a showing a little life. Travis Beck let a shot go at the 48 minute mark that just went wide of a open Laurentian net. Shortly after that Mount Pearl
just barely missed another golden opportunity. But from that onward is was, "All Laurentian Blue", even the skys. At the 61 minue mark,Mike Howlett deflected a free shot of Jeremy Brenton and Brenton was rewarded a goal.Mike hit the free shot from about 32 yards and it sort of hit young Jeremy how was trying to get himself out of the way and it deflected into a wide open Mount Pearl net. Both teams looked very relaxed after that until at the 76 minute mark when Johnny Pickett set up Marc Pitttman who drilled a shot pass Connolly for the third Laurentian goal. Actually, It was a superb shot. Mount Pearl hit their goal at the 84 minute mark as Justin Pickford struck the ball and Douglas couldn't handle the shot and as a result Bernie Manning touched it into the Laurentian goal. This goal made the final 3-1 for St.Lawrence Overall, the Laurentians probably scored a " B" when it was all said and done.