Kirk, Evans lead Lakers to big win
Lakers can advance to the Mann Cup with a win Saturday on the road
It’s likely 3,170 fans were secondguessing Mike Hasen’s decision to put Evan Kirk back in net for the third period Thursday night.
But Kirk’s 21 third period saves rewarded his coach’s confidence in the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers 14-11 win over the Oakville Rock in Game 5 of the Major Series Lacrosse final at the Memorial Centre.
Kirk made just 12 saves through 37 minutes before being replaced briefly by Matt Vinc with the score 10-10.
Kirk’s stellar third, Shawn Evans’s nine points and Turner Evans’s go-ahead goal 6:02 into the period gives the Lakers a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven final. They’ll try to win a ninth MSL title in 16 years Saturday in Oakville.
“We trust Kirky,” said Hasen, the Lakers head coach.
“We knew he was going to shake it off. He saved our butts because they had three or four three-on-ones in the last few minutes and he stopped them all.”
Kirk said Hasen asked him how he felt and he wanted to continue.
“You have to look people in the eye after the game,” Kirk said, “and I don’t think I’d have been able to do that If I didn’t stick it out. They were all in my corner.”
Oakville kept battling back from two and three-goal deficits and ha it tied 11-11 early in the third. After a tight defensive battle in Game 4 when the teams were 6-6 after regulation time, the goals came fast and furious.
The Lakers had a 6-4 lead when-Holden Cattoni scored 20 seconds into the second. Oakville replied 1:01 later to make it 7-5.
An outside shot by Hickey at 2:51 drew Oakville within one. The goals just kept coming as a persistent Vitarelli put his second rebound home but Andrew Kew replied 59 seconds later. Jeremy Noble tied it at 7:05. It took 49 seconds for Chad Tutton to tuck a ball past Nick Rose while diving for a 9-8 lead. Hickey dropped a shot over his check on a power play tying it again at 14:20.
Oakville drove Kirk from the net after Johnny Powless fired a long shot home for a 10-9 Rock lead at 16:46. Shawn Evans scored from outside the circle 36 seconds later knotting it again.
A Luc Magnan penalty for roughing led to Cattoni’s goahead goal at 19:22.
Kirk returned to the net to start the third and stopped his first two shots but Jeremy Noble tied at 2:51.
Matt Gilray started a transition play that Turner Evans finished at 5:06. Buchanan’s diving goal at 8:16 made it a two-goal margin at 13:11. Jones added insurance.
NOTE: See the Lakers Life notes on Page C2.
Lakers 14 Rock 11
Series: The Lakers lead the best-of-seven Major Series Lacrosse final 3-2. Game 6 is at 7 p.m. Saturday in Oakville. If necessary, Game 7 is at 7 p.m. Monday at the PMC.
Lakers scorers: Shawn Evans (3-6), Holden Cattoni (2-5), Adam Jones (2-2), Cory Vitarelli (2-2), Turner Evans (2-1), Kyle Buchanan (1-4), Corey Small (1-2), Chad Tutton (1-0), Matt Gilray (0-1), Thomas Hoggarth (0-1).
Rock scorers: Brett Hickey (3-3), Jeremy Noble (2-6), Johnny Powless (2-4), Mitch de Snoo (2-0), Andrew Kew (1-2), Billy Hostrawser (1-1), Nick Rose (0-2), Dan Craig (0-1), Jordan Magnuson (0-1), Tanner Thomson (0-1).