BLC Prevail in OT Thriller on Home Turf

By Mark Stehlin

While last night's game may not have played out exactly to script, it was a well-deserved win for the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) giving them the all-important two points and improved their record to 6-2 on the season.  The Owen Sound NorthStars were the opponents as they made the mid-week trek south to Iroquois Park Sports Centre. The teams battled back and forth all night. With 2:44 elapsed off the clock in the 10-minute overtime period, Taggart Clark fired home his fourth of the game to seal the 9-8 overtime win.

“This was a humbling opportunity and it showed us how tight this league is on any given night. I thought we worked hard, and, in the end, we earned the win,” said head coach Joel Johnson.

The game started well for the home side as Chris Boushy got his team on the board just 0:34 into the contest for an early lead. The teams traded goals in that frame and at the buzzer the scoreboard read 4-3 for BLC.

Clark notched his third of the night just two minutes into the middle frame. He fired a shot on the Owen Sound net that starter Andrew Kidd tried to squeeze against his body, but it found its way over the line. An ill-timed penalty to BLC allowed the visitors to answer seconds later to keep the game close. Once again, the teams played this one tight throughout the second frame. A short-handed marker for Owen Sound with a minute on the clock gave BLC a tenuous 8-7 lead going into the third period.

Defense and stingy goaltending was on display in the third period. BLC fired 14 shots at Kidd but were not able to find a solution. Meanwhile, the NorthStars had 11 shots on BLC goalie Steven Orleman. It was former BLC player Mitch Wilde who scored at 10:43 on another short-handed goal to tie the contest. The remainder of the game stayed scoreless and fans settled in for a 10-minute sudden death overtime period.

The home team set up on offense and Clark would be tonight’s hero scoring at 2:44 to break the deadlock and give BLC the win.

“Tonight’s game was fast paced. We talked about how important it was to capitalize on opportunities and not get caught standing still or it could cost us. I like our team and how we work hard, and I like the potential that we have with this squad,” added Johnson.

Scoring – B Kearnan (1,1) Darlison (0,1) Byrne (0,1) Lee (0,1) Boushy (2,2) White (0,1) Clark (4,4) Westley (0,2) K Cook (0,1) T Cook (0,1) MacLeod (0,3) Woods (2,0) MacDonnell (0,1)

The team is on the road Thursday night in Peterborough at 8 pm and ends a busy stretch of three games in five nights with a visit to Cobourg on Sunday at 6 pm.

They are back home on Saturday June 28 at 8 pm for their annual Scott McMichael Minor Lacrosse Night when the defending Mann Cup champion Six Nations Chiefs are in town. This is part of a double-header Saturday as the Brooklin Merchants host the Six Nations Rivermen at 4 pm.

Congratulations to Nigel Rogers of Whitby winner of tonight's 50/50 draw.