An Inspiring Effort for BLC as Playoffs Loom

By Mark Stehlin

The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) unloaded their gear in the visitors dressing room at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena for the second time this season. The first visit resulted in an 11-3 loss to the Six Nations Chiefs whereas tonight was a much tighter affair. Despite the 7-5 loss, there were many positives to take away from this one. Zach Higgins put on a goalie clinic and the defense stifled a dangerous Chiefs offense.

There was an interesting story line as BLC dressed Justin Tavares tonight. He is an unaffiliated player and because his Mimico Mountaineers Junior A team were eliminated from the playoffs, he can play Major Series Lacrosse. He amassed over 100 points this year in junior and still has two years remaining at that level. Of course, lacrosse fans will recognize the surname as his father is legendary player John Tavares, head coach for the Six Nations Chiefs.

The visitors jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Taggart Clark and Brady Kearnan both found a sliver of daylight to each drive the ball past Chiefs starter, Warren Hill. Kearnan added a second goal to give BLC the lead. BLC also had the shot advantage that frame by a margin of 15-6.

Ian MacKay scored three minutes into the second to put the Chiefs on the board. Only two minutes later, BLC defender Ben MacDonnell got his first of the season to regain the three-goal lead. He took the ball from the right side, cut to the middle and faked a look to his teammates coming off the bench before firing one behind Hill. Score after two periods was all squared at 4-4. The Chiefs thought they scored with the clock showing one second for the lead, but the referees called it off for what appeared to be a shot clock violation.

The Chiefs took their first lead of the night with 8:16 showing on the clock before Bo Columbus with his first in a BLC jersey tied the game again at 5-5. That would be the last goal for BLC on this night. For the Chiefs, it was Ryan Smith with his second on the night and 38th of the season in addition to Tyson Bell with an empty net goal for the 7-5 win and season series.

Scoring – MacDonnell (1,0) MacLeod (0,1) Columbus (1,1) Keenan (0,1) Clark (1,0) Miller (0,3) Darlison (0,1) B Kearnan (2,0)

The BLC finish off their regular season with a road trip vs Owen Sound on Sunday July 27 for a 2 pm matinee at the Meaford-St Vincent Community Centre. The Brooklin Merchants will be in the same town and in the same rink for 6 pm in game two of their Ontario Series Lacrosse semi-final series with the North Stars that starts Friday night at 8 pm at Iroquois Park Sports Centre.