BROOKLIN REGISTERS CONVINCING ROAD VICTORY AGAINST COBOURG

By Sam Laskaris

It was a great way for the Brooklin Lacrosse Club to start its season.

Or perhaps re-start its season is the correct terminology.

The Brooklin squad hit the road on Sunday and registered a convincing 16-8 Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) victory over the host Cobourg Kodiaks.

The Brooklin club had also played back on May 23 against the host Six Nations Chiefs. The Chiefs won that contest 10-6.

But that match did not include referees sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association and was deemed an exhibition affair.

Later that week the MSL announced it was postponing the start of its regular season while the league and the OLA worked out various items, including the much-publicized relocation/ownership issues involving the Brampton and Owen Sound franchises.

Now playing in a four-team league for the 2022 campaign, Brooklin returned to action on Sunday against the Kodiaks.

And it ended up being the Dyson Williams Show as the Brooklin rookie racked up nine points, including six goals, in the game.

“He’s a super talented kid,” Brooklin head coach Jason Crosbie said of Williams, a former star with the Whitby Warriors’ Junior A club. “What I saw was a lot of patience and savvy from a young kid.”

Williams has also starred in recent years with the Duke Blue Devils, an NCAA Division 1 field lacrosse team.

Brooklin officials have been itching to get Williams into their lineup for several years now.

“He sees the floor well and he’s got all the tools,” Crosbie said. “The ball never gets stuck in his stick. There’s always movement.”

Brooklin defender Mike Byrne was obviously pleased to be playing with instead of against Williams on Sunday.

“He’s got so much talent,” Byrne said of his teammate. “It was fun to watch.”

Crosbie was pleased with the efforts of all those who donned a Brooklin jersey on Sunday. The club dressed a relatively youthful lineup including several of its draft picks from recent years.

“They did a very good job,” Crosbie said. “They were doing exactly what the coach wanted them to do.”

Byrne was somewhat surprised to see his side score twice as many goals as the Kodiaks.

“I didn’t think we were expecting to win by that much,” he said. “But there’s a few things we still need to clean up. That will come with some chemistry.”

Crosbie believes his club was missing eight players who spent this past season playing professionally in the National Lacrosse League. Those individuals are expected to be inserted into the lineup in upcoming matches.

“The lineups are going to change every game,” Crosbie said. “But the talent of the lineup is not going to fade.”

Count Byrne among those who are excited to see the Brooklin side perform in its coming games.

“We think we’re a great team,” he said. “But when we get all those guys back we should be even better.”

Kyle Waters also had a big night offensively for Brooklin on Sunday, scoring four goals and chipping in with a pair of assists as well.

Connor Kearnan and Luke Pilcher added a pair of goals each while Ryan Lanchbury and Sean Westley provided singles.

Meanwhile, Riley Hutchcraft earned the W between the pipes.

Brooklin returns to action on Wednesday. The club will host Six Nations in its home opener. Game time at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby is set for 8 p.m.