Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) Stumble at Home After a Strong Start to the Game

By Mark Stehlin

The Six Nations Chiefs were the guests tonight at IPSC, an electrical breakdown on the team bus delayed their arrival but not enough to adversely affect them.  The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) came into the game with a 2-0 record while the Chiefs were also unbeaten at 1-0.

It would be BLC who opened the scoring as they registered the first two goals to take the early lead. Six Nations clawed back with three straight, including one by former BLC player and Clarington product, Shayne Jackson. BLC got two of their own late to win that opening frame 4-3.

- photo Mark Stehlin

The second period was more of the same as both teams moved the ball up and down the floor. Six Nations scored early and added two more before BLC could respond. The visitors won the middle frame by a score of 4-2 and led 7-6 after forty minutes.

- photo Mark Stehlin

The final period defined the outcome of the game. For every goal BLC scored, the Chiefs answered with two of their own not allowing the hosts to build any sort of momentum. The third period ended 6-2 in favour of the Chiefs who took the 13-8 win to improve to 2-0 and drop BLC to 2-1.

- photo Mark Stehlin

Head coach Joel Johnson said, “I liked our compete level, the first period was obviously good for us.”

With five power play goals on the night he added, “I was very happy with our special teams” as they capitalized on those chances.

When the lead changed and Six Nations opened it up a little, Johnson said “we made a few mistakes in the second against a very good team and they made us pay.” However, he said, “we maintained our composure and despite a little frustration on the bench, I was proud of how they hung in there”.

Moving on to Sunday in Cobourg, Johnson stressed to his players “no matter the outcome tonight we need to have a short memory, we have a new opponent and thus an opportunity to improve on the small things and continue to get better as a team.”

Next game for BLC is Sunday June 9, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. with a trip to Cobourg to face the Kodiaks. BLC returns home on Wednesday June 12, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. to host the Brampton Excelsiors. Brooklin Merchants (7-1) are home Friday June 7, 2024 at 8:00 p.m. to host the Ennismore James Gang (0-7).

Brooklin scoring - Shanks (2,4) Tanner Cook (2,2) Hogg (0,1) Westley (0,1) Connor Kearnan (2,2)  Brady Kearnan (1,2) Curtis Knight (1,4)