Ward brings 'A' game in win over Excelsiors

Dillon Ward showed why he was the best goalie in the National Lacrosse League this winter.
With his team getting outshot, Ward made 42 saves to backstop the Six Nations Pro-Fit Chiefs to a 12-5 win over the Brampton Excelsiors Tuesday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
While Ward did his job, the offence rolled in the first period with Vaughn Harris leading the charge scoring twice, with Kyle Jackson, Ryan Benesch, Dhane Smith, Randy Staats and Shane Simpson adding singles.
Brandon Robinson was the only one able to beat Ward.
The Chiefs struck three times in the first eight minutes of the second period when Jordan Durston, Simpson and Harris adding to the lead.
Phillip Caputo scored two goals in a minute span to breath some life into the Excelsiors.
Those goals seemed to help, with Bennett Drake getting on the board for the visitors first, before Craig Point and Brodie Miller tacked on to the lead. Mike Melnychenko added a late goal for teh Excelsiors.
The Chiefs improve to 10-1-1 on the season, and are one point behind the Major Series Lacrosse leading Peterborough Lakers. Saturday, the Chiefs host the Oakville Rock at 1 p.m., to celebrate the team's 25th anniversary.

NOTES: Billy Dee Smith made his season debut after being sidelined with an injury. Tuesday also marked the first night the Chiefs had a full compliment of regular players. While Benesch scored one goal, he added four assists to lead all point getters in the game. Point and Durston each had three assists, while Harris had one to earn four-point nights.