Overtime Loss by BLC Forces Game Seven

By Mark Stehlin

It wasn’t the ending to game six that the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) had envisioned. After falling behind two games to none in this semi-final series they reeled off three straight wins over the Peterborough Lakers and had a chance to clinch at home last night. They were swept four straight by these same Lakers in the 2024 playoffs and so a chance for redemption was top of mind.  After a solid start to the game, BLC had a built a lead only to see it evaporate and watch their opponents score in overtime.  The teams will gather for a seventh and deciding game seven back at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Thursday night at 8 p.m.

The home team opened the scoring and added two more for a 3-1 lead after the first twenty minutes. BLC starter Zach Higgins was dialed in for this game and made some acrobatic saves to give his mates a chance to win. The offense for BLC was also on point with Tanner Cook, Taggart Clark and Sean Westley scoring in the opening frame. Westley crossed from left to right at the top of the slot and fired a screamer past starter Nick Rose for the 3-0 lead with just under 10 minutes remaining in the opening frame. Holden Cattoni for the visitors stopped that run before the teams left the floor for the first intermission and the clock displayed the 3-1 lead for the home side.

The hosts continued to show offensive prowess in the middle frame as Ryan Barnable got in on the action to stretch the lead. That was followed by Westley’s second of the night for the 5-1 lead with 15 minutes left in the second. Barnable came in on Rose’s left shoulder and with a veteran move waited for Rose to drop before he deftly deposited the ball into the back of the net. The home side was also able to successfully kill off a five-minute major penalty to Clark for a high stick in that frame. Unfortunately, the scoring strength they had built disappeared for the remainder of the contest. The Lakers scored to close the gap to 5-2 after forty minutes.

Lacrosse fans know that results can hinge on runs and momentum swings, tonight it was the Lakers who turned the tide in their favour. Higgins continued to stave off the Lakers with a number of highlight reel saves. It was the leadership shown by the visitors, buoyed by a good contingent of travelling fans, that gave them the third period and the overtime win for the 3-3 series tie. The home side had a five on three power play to start that final frame but were unable to solve Rose and spread the lead. Taite Cattoni was the hero for the Lakers as his natural hattrick ending with 4:13 elapsed in the 10-minute sudden death overtime period gave the Lakers the 6-5 win. The loss forces BLC to travel back to Peterborough on Thursday night for a seventh and deciding game seven.

“We got off to a good start, but we let off a little and with a good team like that all the small mistakes matter,” said head coach Joel Johnson after the game.

“We’re happy with the effort but of course not with the result tonight, we’re pissed off right now but we’re not doubtful.  We are motivated and we’ll have to go there tomorrow night having to put in a bit more work than we thought. The message for tomorrow night is win, full-steam ahead and play a complete sixty minutes as a lot can happen in a small amount of time,” added Johnson.  

Scoring – Cook (1,2) Westley (2,1) Clark (1,2) Miller (0,1) Barnable (1,2) C Kearnan (0,2)