Rookie Swift OT hero in Lakers opener win

Jeff Swift was probably the last guy who wanted to see Monday night’s Major Series Lacrosse game go to overtime, but in the end he was the hero.

Swift got a call at about 9:30 a.m. Monday to join the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers for their season-opening game in Oakville versus the Rock after he had played games Saturday and Sunday with the Senior B Ennismore James Gang.

But just over four minutes into overtime, Swift “came around a pick, got a pass (from Shawn Evans) from the far side and just picked a spot,” he said, for what held up as the only goal in the 10-minute extra frame of Peterborough’s 11-10 triumph.

Shawn and Turner Evans each scored two goals and four assists to lead Peterborough in scoring while head coach Mike Hasen said Evan Kirk played well in net to earn the win.

The Lakers led 10-7 with five minutes to play despite going 0-for-6 on the power play while Oakville scored five power play goals in eight chances. Then the Rock repeatedly hit pay dirt with the goalie pulled for an extra attacker.

Wesley Berg got his third goal and Brett Hickey his fourth before Dan Lomas tied things up at 10 with 41 seconds to play. So that makes eight of Oakville’s 10 goals coming with an extra man.

Swift said that before overtime started, the message from the Lakers coaches and veterans was “just calm down, move our feet and do the things we can do.” The winning goal was certainly one of the biggest of Swift’s career.

“It’s my first in Senior A so it’s a big one for me. Especially in overtime, a game winner,” Swift said. Big enough to make playing his third game in three days well worth the effort.