Arena Lacrosse League East Week 11 Game Recaps
There were five games this week in the Arena Lacrosse League East - Week 11
Friday Evening
Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Hagersville, Ontario
Ohsweken Bears 12 Six Nations Snipers 16
Another rough start for the Ohsweken Bears falling behind 6-1 after one quarter. The Bears made a game of it in the second, scoring six times themselves led by Heron Snow (2g,2a) and Layne Smith (4g,1a) for a 10-7 Snipers lead at the half.
Whatever was said in the dressing room at halftime had Ohsweken on fire to start the third. Layne Smith's pair of goals sandwiched Dalen Burning's (1g,0a) goal to tie the game. After the teams traded goals, the Bears were down by just one heading to the fourth. Six Nations put it in another gear in the fourth with five unanswered goals to put this game away 16-12.
Ross Hill (3g,4a), Brent Longboat (3g,2a), Thunder Hill (2g,2a) and Danton Miller (2g,2a) led the way for the Snipers. Rod Squire (1g,3a) and Josh Miller (0g,3a) were the playmakers.
James Whiteford (3g,5a), Layne Smith (4g,1a) and Heron Snow (2g,2a) led the way for the Bears. Kyle Pedwell (0g,4a) and Jordan Goddard (0g,3a) were the playmakers.
The Three Stars:
1. Brent Longboat (Six Nations)
2. James Whiteford (Ohsweken)
3. Ross Hill (Six Nations)
Saturday Afternoon
At the Millbrook Arena in Millbrook, Ontario
Oshawa Outlaws 17 Peterborough Timbermen 13
This game showed once again how lacrosse is a game of runs. The Outlaws jumped out to a 5-1 lead after one, but a big five goal second had Peterborough trailing by just one at the half 7-6.
Once again the Outlaws put together a dominant third quarter scoring six times led by Alec Simons (5g,1a) with a natural hat-trick, and John St. John (2g,7a) with a goal and two assists to take control of the game once again. The Timbermen fought to the end but the Hill was just too steep. Oshawa came away with the 17-13 victory.
John St. John had a huge accomplishment in this game collecting his 500th career Arena Lacrosse League point.
John St. John (2g,7a), Gareth Haigh (4g,2a) and Alec Simons (5g,1a) led the way for Oshawa. Graham Bergsma (0g 5a) and Geoff McNulty (0g;3a) were the playmakers.
Cam Milligan (3g,1a) led the way for Peterborough, with help from Cole Hanrahan (2g,2a). The Timbermen's balanced attack was on display again on this day with nine seperate scorers.
The Three Stars:
1. Alec Simons (Oshawa)
2. John St. John (Oshawa)
3. Gareth Haigh (Oshawa)
Saturday Evening
At the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario
Paris RiverWolves 13 Toronto Monarchs 14
In what was probably their most complete game of the season, the Toronto Monarchs defeated the Paris RiverWolves 14-13 in overtime. Led by Riley Ford (2g,1a), the Monarchs overcame a 5-3 first quarter deficit, outscoring the RiverWolves 5-0 in the second for an 8-5 lead at the half.
Paris came out with a vengence in the third, led by a pair of goals by Mike Melnychenko (2g,1a). The game was tied headed to the fourth. Paris looked to seal the game with three quick goals to start the fourth, but the Monarchs were not going to be denied on this night. Parker Pipher (2g,2a), followed by shorthanded goals by Patrick Thomson (2g,1a) and Julian Guay (1g,0a) tied the game with only a few minutes remaining.
Regulation solved nothing, and overtime would be needed.
In the extra quarter, Parker Pipher converted a Jordan Dance feed at 6:42 on the power-play for the win by the Monarchs.
Jordan Dance (3g,2a), Parker Pipher (2g,2a) and Riley Ford (2g,1a) led the way for Toronto. Steven Portelli (0g,4a) was the playmaker.
Kyle Dawson (3g,2a), Mike Melnychenko (2g,1a) and Luke Van Schepen (2g,1a) led the charge for Paris, with Kurtis Woodland (1g,4a) being the playmaker.
The Three Stars:
1. Luke Van Schepen (Paris)
2. Craig Wende (Toronto)
3. Parker Pipher (Toronto)
Sunday At the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Hagersville, Ontario
Early Game
Whitby Steelhawks 18 Ohsweken Bears 10
Although Ohsweken has been having a rough time lately, losing six straight games, they played the Steelhawks quite tough in the first half.
Whitby took a 4-1 lead in the second quarter, but the Bears fought back. A four goal run had Ohsweken in the lead with just 1:14 remaining in the half. Steelhawks goals by Nikolai Farrus with 0:14 seconds left, and Devin Pipher with 0:01 second left changed the momentum and complexion of the game heading to the half.
The third quarter saw Whitby take control of the game scoring four unanswered goals before the Bears answered with a pair. Another four goal run heading into the start of the fourth quarter had this a 16-8 game, and the hole was getting deeper for Ohsweken. The Bears were able to score three more times in the quarter, but the powerful Steelhawks were in control of the game. Whitby won this game handily 19-10.
Trent Boyd (2g,5a), Nikolai Farrus (3g,4a) and Adam Perroni (2g,3a) led the Steelhawks offense. Luke Keenan (1g;4a) and Devin Pipher (1g,3a) were the playmakers.
Layne Smith (4g,1a) and Dalen Burning (2g,2a) led the Ohsweken offense, with James Whiteford (1g,5a) and Jordan Goddard (1g, 4a) were the playmakers.
The Three Stars:
1. Nikolai Farrus (Whitby)
2. Adam Perroni (Whitby)
3. Trent Boyd (Whitby)
Late Game
Brampton Express 13 Six Nations Snipers 11
In a see-saw battle all game, the Brampton Express outlasted the Six Nations Snipers 13-11. Brampton jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but three goals in under a minute put the Snipers in the lead. The Express came back with three of their own, and the see-saw battle continued. The Express took an 8-5 lead to the dressing room at halftime.
Brampton opened the third quarter scoring increasing their lead to four, but a five goal run from the Snipers gave them a one goal lead with eleven minutes to go in the fourth. Brampton dominated the last half of the quarter, potting four of the last five goals, including an empty net goal with just 1:09 left for the victory.
Both Cole Martin and Dylan Sprentz were spectacular in their respective nets. Both goalies made 40+ saves on the day.
Curtis Ward (2g,3a), Mikael Chullin (2g,2a) and Gage Board (2g,0a) led the charge for Brampton, with Colin Matthews (0g,5a) being the playmaker.
Daylin Hill (2g,5a), Thunder Hill (2g,3a) and Tye Argent (2g,1a) were the leaders on offense for the Snipers.
The Three Stars:
1. Cole Martin (Brampton)
2. Dylan Sprentz (Six Nations)
3. Mikael Chullin (Brampton)