BROOKLIN REDMEN PUSH PETERBOROUGH LAKERS TO THE MAX

WHITBY — Derek Hopcroft’s goal in sudden-death overtime lifted the Brooklin Redmen to a 7-6 win Wednesday at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre and pushed their semifinal series with the Peterborough Lakers to a seventh and deciding game.

Hopcroft, frustrated all game by the stingy Peterborough defence, found the mark just 34 seconds into a second extra frame, knotting the Major Series Lacrosse semifinal at three games apiece.

Game 7, originally scheduled for Thursday, has been moved to Sunday at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

The game was a tight defensive affair with superb goaltending, especially from the Redmen’s Zach Higgins, who made 61 saves and held the potent Peterborough offence off the board for the entire overtime.

After a scoreless 10-minute first OT, which was not sudden-death, Hopcroft beat Lakers goalie Tyler Carlson with the first possession after a brief break, using his accurate outside shot from the left side.

Kyle Aquin opened the scoring 8:10 into the game and the Redmen never trailed playing before another big crowd in Whitby.

The Redmen carried leads of 3-2 through one period and 5-3 through two before the Lakers battled back to tie the game with the first two goals of the third.

Jordan Houtby put Brooklin back ahead with 3:28 remaining in regulation, but that was answered by Shawn Evans 29 seconds later.

Evans then nearly notched the winner for the defending Mann Cup champions, but his shot found back of the net just after the buzzer sounded.

John Grant Jr. and Evans each scored twice for the Lakers, while Josh Gillam and Jim Purves added singles.

Mike Melnychenko led the Redmen offence with two goals and an assist, while Kiel Matisz also had three points, all assists, including on Hopcroft’s winner. Shawn Williams and Gavin Prout each had a goal and an assist.

The winner of Sunday’s game will advance to the final against the Six Nations Chiefs, who swept Kitchener-Waterloo in the other semi.

Article Courtesy of: Durhamregion.com