Visiting Excelsiors Register Win And Officially End Brooklin’s Playoff Hopes
July 17, 2019
By Sam Laskaris
An inability to get its offence going in the third period proved costly for the Brooklin Lacrosse Club on Wednesday.
Brooklin was deadlocked at 4-4 with the visiting Brampton Excelsiors following 40 minutes of action in its Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) contest, held at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby.
But the Excelsiors outscored Brooklin 5-1 in the final period to register a 9-5 victory.
With the loss Brooklin saw its record fall to 2-12. The setback also officially eliminated Brooklin, which has four regular season outings remaining, from post-season action this season.
“You can’t score one goal in the third period and expect to win,” said Brooklin’s Jake Fox, one of the five players from his squad to register a goal on Wednesday. “Of course it’s a little disappointing. We were in this game but they came out hot in the third and we couldn’t answer it.”
Fox added the fact Brooklin will not be participating in the MSL playoffs this season is a downer.
“You can’t look at this season and say it’s not disappointing,” he said. “But on the other hand, most of the guys on our team are in their first, second or third year in this league. So the future looks bright.”
Brooklin veteran John LaFontaine admitted he did not know Wednesday’s loss officially ended his club’s slim post-season aspirations.
“I know we haven’t really talked about the playoffs much,” he said. “We really do just come in and take it a game at a time.”
LaFontaine also said Wednesday’s setback stings somewhat, especially since like many other contests this year, Brooklin had a chance to win.
“It is disappointing,” he said. “You never like to lose. And you never like to lose at home.”
LaFontaine, like no doubt the rest of his teammates, was not pleased with what transpired in the final 20 minutes.
“They kept the pressure up,” he said of the Excelsiors. “And they kept the transition up. I think they scored three of their five goals in that period off the transition.”
Dan Michel, Connor Kearnan, Brent Noseworthy and Curtis Knight also scored for Brooklin.
Brooklin’s next game is Monday on the road against the Oakville Rock. That match, which has an 8 p.m. opening faceoff, will be held at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville.
Meanwhile, Brooklin’s next home contest is next Wednesday against the Cobourg Kodiaks at 8 p.m.