Rock even up series with 10-8 win over Lakers
Mistakes costly for Lakers as three-goal run in final minutes allow the Rock to pull out a win
OAKVILLE – Late heroics helped the Oakville Rock hold serve on home court Thursday night.
A three-goal run including two in the final 3:11 rallied the Rock past the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers 10-8 at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
It evens the Major Series Lacrosse final 1-1.
Rock goalie Nick Rose sprung Pat Walsh on a breakaway where he beat goalie Matt Vinc with 3:11 left. Andrew Kew’s third goal of the game on a bounce shot at 18:27 added insurance.
The best-of-seven series returns to the Memorial Centre for Game 3 on Sunday at 7 p.m.
The series winner will host the 2018 Mann Cup beginning Sept. 7.
The Lakers started slow but rallied from a 4-1 deficit to take their first lead early in the third Every time they got on top Oakville answered.
“Mistakes we made ended up in the back of our net, timely turnovers in the offensive end that led to fast break goals,” said Corey Small.
“Penalties early in the game ended up as power play goals for them. We just have to limit our mistakes and I think we come out with a win.”
“It wasn’t always pretty,” said Rose, “but we stuck with that one tonight. That’s kind of been out team motto, just stick with it and find a way to win at the end. That’s what we did tonight. Every single guy contributed to that one.”
The defence was tight in the first period with no scoring until the game’s first power plays midway through the first period.
Challen Rogers put Oakville up with Ian Llord in the penalty box at 10:02. Holden Cattoni responded on a Lakers man-advantage with a heavy shot from the top of the power play 1:34 later.
Oakville regained the lead with 1:20 left in the first as Kew survived a slash to rip a shot from the restraining line past Vinc.
The second period was scoreless until Johnny Powless struck on the power play at 10:34 on an outside shot. Matt Van Galen scored 1:54 later for a 4-1 lead before Mark Steenhuis cut to the middle to finish Kyle Buchanan’s pass breaking a 21:13 Lakers scoreless drought.
Buchanan gave the Lakers their first lead 2:48 into the third period on a similar goal to his first. He took Small’s pass to the net and tucked the shot in as he dove to avoid the crease. Powless cut in front to deposit Kew’s pass at 5:55 knotting it again.
Small snuck in behind the Rock defence to put a low shot by Rose at 9:28 but Kew tied it with a bounce shot 49 seconds later.
Small converted Josh Currier’s rebound at 12:36 but Bill Hostrawser replied on a breakaway 30 seconds later making it 8-8.
Rock 10 Lakers 8
Series: Oakville ties the best-ofseven Major Series Lacrosse final 1-1. Game 3 is at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Memorial Centre.
Lakers scorers: Kyle Buchanan (2-3), Corey Small (2-1), Holden Cattoni (2-0), Mark Steenhuis (1-0), Cory Vitarelli (1-0), Shawn Evans (0-4), Josh Currier (0-1), Adam Jones (0-1).
Rock scorers: Andrew Kew (3-2), Johnny Powless (2-3), Jeremy Noble (1-3), Challen Rogers (1-2), Matt Van Galen (1-1), Billy Hostrawser (1-0), Pat Walsh (1-0), Dan Craig (0-1), Brad Gillies (0-1), Nick Rose (0-1), Tanner Thomson (0-1).