Merchants Up 2-0 After Thriller in Hamilton

By Mark Stehlin

The Brooklin Lacrosse Club won a hard fought battle in Brampton this afternoon. Adam Perroni and Alexis Simard suited up for that game but got first crack at a hot shower.  Once dressed, they got back on the highway for a trip to Hamilton to suit up for the Brooklin Merchants who faced the Bengals this evening.

- photo by Sam Hossack 

The Bengals jumped on the Merchants early and went on to a 5-3 lead after the first period. Lukas Coote got the start in net and Simard scored the first Merchants goal at 10:17. 

Hamilton added to their lead and with less than a minute off the clock in the second were up 7-3.  That forced Head Coach Ryan Degerdon to make a goaltending change as Coote made way for Deacon Knott. 

Degerdon said after the game "pulling Coote was no reflection on his play but I had to challenge the boys." 

The Bengals welcomed Knott with a goal less than a minute later and it was 8-3 for Hamilton.  The Merchants got the message and rattled off five straight to win that period and it was 9-8 for the Bengals after two periods.

Ben MacDonnell scored for the Merchants to start the final frame and the game was knotted at 9-9 with only a few minutes remaining.  The teams traded goals and Zac Carrigan added the eventual game winner with 3:45 on the clock. With 1:02 showing on the clock, the Merchants were assessed a high sticking penalty and Degerdon, voicing his displeasure was given an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty sending the Merchants out to kill a five on three. The visitors dug deep and prevailed, holding off the Bengals taking the 11-10 win and 2-0 series lead. Game three is at Luther Vipond Memorial Arena on Friday at 8 pm.

Scoring for Brooklin - MacDonnell (2,0) Renaud (1,2) Carrigan (1,0) Goodchild (0,1) Boyd (0,2) Elliott (1,1) Renzetti (0,1) D Pipher (0,1) Wheller (1,2) Perroni (0,1) Pullera (1,0) Pongetti (0,1) Morgan (1,0) P Pipher (0,1) Hickey (2,0) Simard (1,1) 

Ryan Degerdon said after the game "the game started slow but in the end it was a character win."

He was impressed with Perroni and Simard and stated "for these two players to be willing to do that" play two games in one day "was a huge sacrifice for the organization."

He reiterated "the decision to pull Coote was to get the boys a spark as until that point words on the bench were not working." 

He told his team after the game "the unsportsmanlike call at the end was all on me, I let my emotions get the best of me and that was not a good look for me."  He added "I expect accountability and I had to own what happened." 

- photo by Sam Hossack