Lakers take 3-0 series lead Mervin wins in cup finale
Peterborough could win MSL series Tuesday in Six Nations after 11-8 win Sunday
The third period magic continued for the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers Sunday night.
The Lakers fired five straight goals to start the third period rallying past the Six Nations Chiefs 11-8 to take a 3-0 stranglehold on their best-of-seven MSL final.
For the third consecutive game the Lakers dominated the third outscoring the Chiefs 6-2 to make it 12-2 for the series. Once again it was the faceoff work of Jake Withers, 17-for-22, and offensive contributions from the transition defence that sparked them.
It’s the second year in a row the Lakers have led the Chiefs 3-0 in the final. They’ll try to avoid last year’s four-game comeback by Six Nations when Game 4 takes place 8 p.m. Tuesday in Six Nations.
“Throughout this whole year, especially in the playoffs, we seem to get better as games progress,” said Adam Jones, who led the offence with a hat trick. “We’ve been pretty hot in the third period and our defence has been shutting them down. We have a lot of confidence right now, but, we’ve been in this position before so we’re not taking anything for granted. We’re focusing on Tuesday.”
Trailing 6-5 after two periods, Curtis Dickson tied it 5:48 into the third with a spectacular nolook, behind-the-back shot. Brock Sorensen gave the Lakers their first lead of the game 55 seconds later on transition pulling up before ripping a shot by Dillon Ward. Matt Gilray added another transition marker 1:02 later finishing a pass from Withers on a three-on-one.
“It’s huge,” Sorensen said, of the transition goals. “We have a lot of young talent which is awesome to see for the Peterborough Lakers and the future of lacrosse in our hometown. We’re fast.”
The goals continued in quick fashion with Jones on a power play 1:43 later and Turner Evans, with his second, 29 seconds after that chasing Ward in favour of Brandon Miller.
Dan Dawson and Kyle Jackson scored the Chiefs first third period goals of the series 2:29 apart to close within 10-8 with 5:19 left. Jones put it away with two minutes left bouncing a pass from Shawn Evans past Miller.
“We’re finding another gear in that third,” said Lakers’ coach Mike Hasen. “We have a lot of fresh bodies and can find a lot of energy in that third period. We’re really focusing on the little things and it’s coming together for us.”
“A good team has a way of making you get away from your game plan,” said Chiefs’ coach Rich Kilgour. “and they’ve been making us do it in the third. I’m not going to take anything away from them but I still think it’s more what we’re doing to ourselves. Hopefully we can correct it, show up and get that first one under our belt Tuesday and go from there.”
The first two periods the Lakers were chasing the Chiefs.
Randy Staats, who had seven points, buried Dawson’s pass 3:58 into the game and Dhane Smith set up Jackson at 11:10. Withers won the draw after Jackson’s goal and scored 14 seconds later on an individual effort. Holden Cattoni tied it at 12:50 on an outside shot. Both goalies, Evan Kirk and Ward, were sharp.
Six Nations twice took one-goal leads in the second with the Lakers tying it 3-3 and 4-4. Staats third goal on a knuckleball shot followed by Jackson’s outside shot made it 6-4. Jones drew the Lakers within a goal before the period ended on a long-range shot at 17:12.
NOTES: The Lakers floored the same lineup for the third straight game. The Chiefs inserted Mike McNamara in place of Craig Point... The New Westminster Salmonbellies took a 3-1 lead in the Western Lacrosse Association final into Victoria on Sunday night. A score was not available by press time. The winner will host the MSL champion for the Mann Cup.
Barbara Mervin’s third and likely final Women’s World Rugby Cup came to an emotional end on Saturday.
Canada, who entered the tournament ranked third in the world, beat Australia 43-12 in Belfast, Ireland to finish in fifth place. Canada posted a 4-1 record with two wins over Wales and one over Hong Kong. Their lone loss, 48-5 to New Zealand in the final preliminary round game, knocked them out of medal contention. Canada won silver at the last World Cup. New Zealand regained its position atop the world rankings by defeating the defending gold medallist England 41-32 in the final.
Mervin, 35, Canada’s oldest player at the past two World Cups, has played in Canada’s national program for 15 years. She choked back emotion during an interview posted on Rugby Canada’s Youtube channel following the game.
“I’ve spent 15 years in the Rugby Canada program and the friendships I’ve made and the character that that’s built for me, the ups and the downs,” she said. “Just having so many teammates and so many great people and coaches along the way I’m so grateful to have had rugby in my life. I hope so many girls watching this World Cup, and even boys, get inspired. It can take you around the world and open up doors for you that you never knew could be opened. I feel very, very grateful.”
Despite not winning a medal, Mervin said the team felt good about how it ended the tournament.
“We played the way we wanted. We played as a team. We played with some freedom and we just enjoyed every minute and cherished the time we had with our teammates,” said Mervin. “The fans were unreal so we definitely wanted to perform for them. I think they’re pretty happy with how we did which was absolutely our goal.”
Mervin told The Examiner prior to the World Cup this was likely her last event with Team Canada as she and her husband, former national team player Clay Panga, would like to start a family. Mervin also runs a rugby wear clothing line in Victoria, B.C.
I’m so grateful to have had rugby in my life.” Barbara Mervin