Jones scores winner in double OT
Oakville Rock keep pace all game with Lakers in Game 1 of MSL final series
If Game 1 is any indication the Major Series Lacrosse final is going to be a dandy.
Adam Jones’s goal 1:25 into sudden-death double-overtime lifted the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers past the Oakville Rock 8-7 before 2,882 fans at the Memorial Centre on Tuesday night.
After Thomas Hoggarth and Brock Sorensen came close to scoring the winner on transition, Jones won a loose ball and powered out of the corner to beat
Nick Rose before jumping into the glass in celebration.
The best-of-seven series continues at 8 p.m. Thursday at Oakville’s Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. Game 3 is back in Peterborough on Sunday at 7 p.m.
This is the first time the two teams have ever met in the MSL final.
It also marks the first time in five years the Lakers haven’t faced the Six Nations Chiefs in the league final. The Rock knocked off the Chiefs in six games.
The two clubs have met twice in MSL semifinals with the Lakers winning both semifinal series in 2015 and 2016 in five and six games, respectively.
In the first overtime period, Corey Small who had been quiet all night slipped a check to bury a pass from Jones 1:33 into overtime for just the second Lakers’ lead of the night.
Challen Rogers tied it with a laser beam of a shot with 1:14 left in the first overtime.
Jordan Magnuson scored backto-back goals to stake Oakville to a 3-1 lead after 20 minutes.
Johnny Powless opened the series scoring on an outside shot at 6:08. Shawn Evans tied it 2:12 later picking a spot on Rose from long range.
Magnuson restored Oakville’s lead on a transition goal at 11:22. Challen Rogers picked off a pass by Evans at centre and fed Magnuson for a breakaway tally at 18:06.
Turnabout was fair play in the second as the Lakers outscored Oakville 3-1 to deadlock it 4-4.
Jones came close to tucking a ball behind Rose from behind the net and then grabbed the rebound and hit the post.
On their next possession Jones hit Holden Cattoni with a goalmouth pass to make it a one-goal game 8:34 into the second. Jones tied it at 12:15 finding the top corner.
Andrew Kew replied 1:12 later on a shot that dribbled in off goalie Matt Vinc.
The Lakers made it 4-4 at 5:22 when Evans faked a shot and fed Cory Vitarelli at the far post. Cattoni hit two posts in the final two minutes, including one at the last second, of the second.
Jeremy Noble worked his way out of the corner to drop a shot by Vinc 3:05 into the third. Chad Tutton tied it 1:07 later spinning off a check to cap a transition rush.
The Lakers took their first lead of the night at 11:34 when Vitarelli buried his own rebound. Rogers tied it 1:31 later on a shot Vinc looked at first to have before it slipped in. Jones missed a shot off an Evans pass at the last second to secure overtime.
NOTES: Mike Brophy, who covered the Lakers for The Examiner from 1979 to 1992, dropped the ceremonial faceoff. Brophy is retired and living in Ottawa…. See Lakers Life notes on Page C2.
Lakers 8 Rock 7 (2OT)
Series: The Lakers lead the best-of-seven MSL final 1-0. Game 2 is at 8 p.m. Thursday at Oakville’s Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
Lakers scoring: Adam Jones (2-3), Cory Vitarelli (2-0), Holden Cattoni (1-1), Shawn Evans (1-1), Corey Small (1-1), Chad Tutton (1-0), Josh Currier (0-2), Andrew Suitor (0-1), Bryce Sweeting (0-1).
Rock scoring: Challen Rogers (2-2), Jordan Magnuson (2-0), Jeremy Noble (1-3), Johnny Powless (1-2), Andrew Kew (1-1), Dallas Bridle (0-1), Luc Magna (0-1), Tanner Thompson (0-1), Pat Walsh (0-1).