Merchants Trounce Velocity To Remain Undefeated

By Sam Laskaris

Members of the Merchants Lacrosse Club kicked off their holiday long weekend in convincing style.

The host Merchants thumped the visiting Kitchener Waterloo Velocity 15-5 in an Ontario Series Lacrosse (OSL) match held on Friday at Children’s Arena in Oshawa.

With the victory the Merchants improved their early-season record to a perfect 3-0.

Dylan Riley, who was playing his first contest in a Merchants’ jersey, led the offence for his team scoring six goals.

“I just wanted to come in and play my game and try to do everything I could to help the team get the win,” said Riley, who spent last season with the British Columbia-based Langley Thunder, members of the Western Lacrosse Association.

Riley was familiar, however, with some of his Merchants’ teammates. That’s because he had played a few games with about a half dozen of the Merchants this past winter with the Whitby Steelhawks in the Arena Lacrosse League.

Austin Murphy also had a big night for the Merchants popping in four goals.

Murphy was pleased his side was able to turn in a solid performance for a full 60 minutes on Friday.

One week earlier the Merchants led 10-4 after two periods against the same Velocity in a game staged in Waterloo. But because of some lacklustre efforts in the third period in that contest, the Merchants were able to hold on for a win, albeit by just an 11-9 score.

Murphy said Merchants’ head coach Jason Crosbie stressed the importance of competing until the final buzzer not only following last week but before Friday’s game as well.

“We all knew it anyways but he reiterated it,” Murphy said of Crosbie. “It was good tonight that we were able to keep the pedal to the metal.”

Mike Byrne added a pair of goals for the Merchants. And single markers were provided by Dylan Goddard, Jon Leclerc and Jackson Suboch.

Murphy added it’s important the Merchants have been able to get off to a hot start this season.

“It’s big for both organizations,” Murphy said, alluding to the Merchants’ affiliate Brooklin Lacrosse Club, members of the higher calibre Major Series Lacrosse. “We’re looking to build something here for both teams.”

The Merchants will now gear up for a pair of home games they have this coming week.

For starters, they will host the defending OSL champion Oakville Titans on Friday (May 24) in a 7 p.m. start. And then the following night the Merchants will square off against the Six Nations Rivermen, in a battle that has an 8 p.m. faceoff.