Redmen Strike First with Win Over Chiefs

After a one year hiatus, playoff action returned to Iroquois Park featuring the Brooklin Redmen. The atmosphere was electric tonight as Durham Region is also in the midst of hosting the Ontario Lacrosse Festival which meant a good crowd was on hand to witness these teams battle.

A very tight affair with good defense and acrobatic play by both goalies, Mike Poulin for the home team and Dillon Ward for the Chiefs. Shots on net were 42-41 in favour of the Chiefs and the Redmen kept their guests off the board in the middle frame for the 6-4 win. The game got physical at times with Chris Williams and Ian Garrison giving the players a chance to play but calling infractions when warranted, the Chiefs were one for three with the extra man and the Redmen were at one for four.

Kiel Matisz scored his first of two on the night to open the scoring but the Chiefs countered twice in the last few minutes of the first for the 2-1 lead heading off to break. The Redmen out-scored the Chiefs 2-0 in the second, including a picture perfect strike by Adrian Sorichetti off a well timed feed from Graeme Hossack. The game was knotted at 3-3 with one regulation period to go on the night. The Chiefs broke the tie first with a power play marker with 1:43 off the clock but the Redmen clawed back with a goal just over a minute later as Matisz notched his second of the game. Ryan Benesch scored with half the frame to play to tie the affair once again. The Redmen faithful cheered as Ryan Keenan got the winner with six minutes on the clock and Curtis Knight iced it with five ticks remaining.

 The teams play game two on Saturday at the ILA and return to IPSC on Monday August 8, 2016 at 8 pm for game three.