Youthful Brooklin squad edged by host Chiefs

By Sam Laskaris

The effort was there.

Unfortunately, the youthful Brooklin Lacrosse Club was unable to take advantage of a Six Nations Chiefs squad that was missing several of its key regulars on Tuesday.

The Chiefs, who had seven of its noteworthy players in San Diego gearing up to play for the Haudenosaunee squad at the world men’s field lacrosse championships which begin Wednesday, edged Brooklin 9-8 in a Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) match.

The contest was staged at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations.

“I couldn’t ask for nothing more from these guys,” said Brooklin head coach Jason Crosbie, who praised the effort and character of his charges.

Well, there was one moment late in the second period that Crosbie wished had gone differently.

With the score deadlocked at 6-6, Brooklin had possession of the ball with the clock running out.

Crosbie contemplated taking a timeout but opted not to. Then, following a costly turnover, a couple of Six Nations passes later the ball was in the back of the Brooklin net with just one second remaining in the period to give the Chiefs a 7-6 advantage heading into the intermission.

The teams scored two goals each in the final period.

“I should have called a timeout,” Crosbie said. “That’s on me. If I had called it maybe we’d still be playing in overtime right now.”

Even with several of its stars missing the contest, the Chiefs were still able to field a team with numerous individuals that also play professionally in the National Lacrosse League.

“All in all I’m super happy with what transpired tonight,” Crosbie said of his roster, which like most other contests this year was stocked with plenty of players from the club’s Senior B affiliate, the Brooklin Merchants.

No doubt the Brooklin squad was looking for a repeat from earlier this season when it managed to down the visiting Chiefs 11-10 in overtime, back on May 31.

“It’s not the magic we had last time when we beat them at home,” Crosbie said.

With the loss Brooklin saw its record fall to 2-3. And the Chiefs improved their mark to 7-1, good for top spot in the five-team MSL.

Luke Pilcher and Brady Kearnan had two goals apiece for Brooklin. Other who scored for Brooklin were Parker Pipher and Ryan Keenan.

The other Brooklin markers were netted by Jack Travassos and Jacob Martino. For both of these players their goals signified their first MSL ones.

Brooklin is right back in action on Wednesday night. The Cobourg Kodiaks will travel to Brooklin’s home rink, the Iroquois Park Sports Complex in Whitby, to provide the opposition.

The opening faceoff is scheduled for 8 p.m.