When you score twelve goals in a lacrosse game, it’s expected you will win. When you score six goals in a lacrosse game, it’s expected you will lose. Having said that, it’s also expected when you are the defending national champions, you’ll play with drive and determination when facing elimination.
The Brampton Excelsiors played with a duct taped line up all season long with many of their veterans missing games due to jobs, family or other lacrosse commitments. Such was the case again in game five of their MSL Western Division final matchup against the Six Nations Chiefs. While captain Dan Dawson was in, both John McClure and Joe Resetarits were not. McClure was one of just three players to play in all fourteen of the Excelsiors games this season, while Resetarits missed just two.
Brampton opened the scoring but were tied within twenty-four seconds before Craig Point scored back-to-back goals in twenty-six seconds, the first of which came on the powerplay. After a flurry of four goals (three for Six Nations) in just over two and a half minutes – two from Rhys Duch – Anthony Cosmo would make a pair of big saves to keep the score 6-2. They would prove to be big saves as Carter Bender would sandwich a goal in between two from Michael Burke, all within four minutes, to end the second 6-5 in favour of the Chiefs.
In game two of the series in Brampton, there was a skirmish at the end of the second period that saw three game misconducts and two ten minute misconducts. In the ensuing period, the Six Nations Chiefs answered with the only two goals. Cosmo was brilliant that night, but the scrum clearly energized the Chiefs. Flash back to Monday night, and with twenty-one seconds in the second, both lines on the floor met and exchanged words. Four players started the period in the box, two per side, but again, the Chiefs responded, this time with five goals in ten minutes. With five minutes to play and Cosmo on the bench, Bender would complete his hat-trick, but the Chiefs would answer back before time expired to take the game 12-6, and the series, four games to one.
The Chiefs, who the past two seasons ended one game shy of the MSL finals, not only ensure there will be a new Mann Cup Champion in 2012, but also interrupt a run of ten years where the final will not be Peterborough vs Brampton. The Chiefs would not have to wait long to find out who their opponent would be however.
Out in Peterborough, the Lakers had a chance to sweep their series against the Brooklin Redmen. Despite the fact the Lakers led three games to none coming in, the series was anything but dominated by one side. Still, no doubt, the Redmen were looking to stave off elimination and force a fifth game at home on Tuesday. They would open the scoring, and add a second to end the period, but not before John Grant Jr would score two of his own. The first period ended two all.
And then the two teams blew the doors off the Peterborough Memorial Centre. The first ten minutes of the period saw the hometown Lakers go on a 5-1 run, the final four goals all coming in just over two minutes. The second half of the period belonged to Brooklin, but only with a 4-2 run, however, three of those four goals were scored within fifty-four seconds. Despite the late run, Brooklin still trailed 9-7 heading to the locker rooms. The scoreboard was clearly too close for the Lakers as they opened the final period scoring three goals in seventy-five seconds. The run was broken up by Matt Holman’s powerplay goal, but Mark Steenhuis and Grant’s hat-trick brought the score back up to 14-8. Those two goals would be answered by Brooklin but it became obvious they didn’t have the energy to stick with Peterborough, and the crowd pushing the Lakers to the finish line didn’t help. Tracey Kelusky would complete his hat-trick before Cory Vitarelli and John Tavares sealed the fate of the Brooklin Redmen winning the game 17-10, and sweeping the series.
The two wins set up an incredible MSL final between the Peterborough Lakers and the Six Nations Chiefs. In the coming days we will be breaking down the series and announcing the schedule when it is released so continue to check back for more.
Comments are closed.