Visiting Chiefs Edge Brooklin In Overtime
By Sam Laskaris
The Brooklin Lacrosse Club was able to stage a third-period rally against one of the better Major Series Lacrosse teams.But in the end it was still not good enough to earn Brooklin’s first win of the season. That’s because the visiting Six Nations Chiefs defeated Brooklin 9-7 in overtime in a match held on Wednesday at Whitby’s Iroquois Park Sports Centre.
As a result, Brooklin is still seeking its first victory of the 2019 campaign. Brooklin is now winless in seven starts.
The Chiefs, who never trailed in the contest, saw their record improve to 5-2. Brooklin managed to force a 10-minute overtime as it rallied from a 7-4 deficit and scored the final three goals of the third period.
“I think it’s disappointing to lose a game so close,” said Jeff Wittig, who scored a pair of goals for Brooklin. “Especially against a team like that which is always competing for the (championship).”
The Chiefs scored the only two goals in the overtime session. And the game-winning goal, which was credited to Six Nations’ Dhane Smith, was a rather fluky one. Brooklin defender Nick Chaykowsky attempted to grab a rebound that bounced from behind his team’s net. But instead of securing the ball, Chaykowsky accidentally put in into his own net, behind Brooklin netminder Zach Higgins. “What a bounce,” Higgins said. “It’s kind of how the season has gone for us so far.”
Higgins though was pleased with his club’s efforts in the match. “When we’ve got our full lineup, it shows we can compete with anybody,” he said. The relatively low-scoring affair can be attributed to the fact Higgins and Six Nations’ goaltender Doug Jamieson had stellar performances.
It was not a surprise for Wittig that neither team was able to hit the double-digit mark for goals on the night. “I played against Dougie my whole life so I know what he can do,” Wittig said. “And Higgy was unbelievable I thought. I’ve got to give him a round of applause.”
Brooklin just might be celebrating a W now had it not been for its inability to score in the opening period. Six Nations led 3-0 after the opening 20 minutes. “We had a slow start,” Wittig said. “But then when we took over it was our game to lose.”
Brooklin also had a chance to win the game in regulation time. But with mere seconds remaining an Austin Murphy shot from the slot, with Higgins pulled for an extra attacker, hit a Chiefs’ defender on the toe and didn’t make its way towards the Six Nations net.
Curtis Knight also scored twice for Brooklin. Also scoring for Brooklin were Reilly O’Connor, Jake Fox and Dawson Theede.
Brooklin’s will be back in action next Tuesday at 8 p.m. against these same Chiefs. But that contest will be on the road, at the Chiefs’ home rink, the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, located in Hagersville, located adjacent to the Six Nations community of Ohsweken.
Brooklin’s next home game is next Wednesday (June 26) against the two-time defending Mann Cup champions, the Peterborough Lakers. The opening faceoff for that match is also scheduled for 8 p.m.