Massive Win for BLC Evens Semi-Final Series

By Mark Stehlin

The Peterborough Lakers were planning on a win last night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre (IPSC) to take a three games to one stranglehold in this semi-final series. The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) on the other hand needed a win to tie the series and make this a best two of three affair. While the game started in favour of the visitors, it was BLC, led by their captain Connor Kearnan with six goals and a solid defensive stand featuring Steven Orleman in net, that allowed the home team to prevail by a final score of 15-9.

The opening frame went according to script for the visitors as Thomas Hoggarth scored first. BLC veteran Holden Garlent answered within 30 seconds to give his side the short-lived tie. The Lakers found another gear and went on two separate two-goal runs to take a 5-2 lead to the first break leaving BLC fans a little concerned.

As it went, BLC fans had no reason to worry. The home team went on three-goal tear, including two from Kearnan, to start the second period and put their stamp on the game. Hoggarth scored to stop the streak but only briefly. In less than a minute during the middle portion of that period, BLC would score three times giving them their first lead of the night.  They outscored the Lakers 6-3 in that frame and the scoreboard flashed 8-8 after forty minutes.

Fans settled in for an exciting final twenty minutes. The hosts thrilled their fans, in addition to the many young players in town for the Ontario Lacrosse Festival, with an offensive outburst that changed the narrative of this series.

The Lakers did register first as Holden Cattoni put the visitors back up by a goal. At that point, the BLC offense took over and dictated the rest of the game. Sean Westley with a shift from left to right high in the slot seemed to catch Lakers starter Nick Rose unaware as he fired home a screamer. Bo Columbus from the ensuing face-off ran the ball down the floor and deposited one behind Rose as only five seconds had elapsed off the clock. Columbus didn’t have to contend with his nemesis Jake Withers in the face-off circle as he didn’t dress for the Lakers. Jacob Hickey has perfected the art of snaring loose balls and running solo down the floor to score, making it 11-9 for BLC in the process. With five minutes left, Kearnan with his fourth of the game chased Rose from the net as Lakers head coach Mike Hasen gave the nod to Drew Huthchison to take over. Kearnan managed two more down the stretch for the 15-9 final to knot the series at 2-2.

“We got lots of great looks on offense, but it seems that Rosie has had my number, tonight it was just a matter of putting it in and it felt good out there,” said Connor Kearnan after his six-goal performance.

“We keep building steps, we are doing what we can for each other out there to keep this rolling. For game five we have to play hard each shift and hope to break them down, especially with our young legs,” added Kearnan

Scoring – C Kearnan (6,3) Barnable (1,3) Garlent (1,1) Miller (0,5) Clark (0,2) Westley (2,5) Keenan (0,1) Columbus (1,0) MacLeod (1,1) Hickey (1,0) Renaud (2,0)

Game five in the series is Thursday night in Peterborough. The teams have a lay-off until Wednesday August 13 for game six as the Peterborough Memorial Centre is not available due to ice installation. Game seven, if needed, is Thursday August 14 back in Peterborough.