Lakers win third in a row to take series lead
Mark Matthews scores with 2.4 seconds left to break tie; Lakers have chance to advance to Mann Cup with win Thursday
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers hope to not play at the Evinrude Centre again.
They’ll head to Ohsweken on Thursday with a chance to win the Major Series Lacrosse title after a dramatic Game 5 win Tuesday night over the Six Nations Chiefs.
Mark Matthews buried his fifth goal of the game with 2.4 seconds left to give the Lakers, who trailed 12-11 about 2 1/2 minutes earlier, a 13-12 victory at a soldout Evinrude Centre.
“(Tracey Kelusky) drew up a great play and Holden (Cattoni) set an unbelievable pick and it just happened to go in,” Matthews said. “I didn’t want to miss the net and have them go down and score on an open net.
“This is some of the best lacrosse I have ever played in. There aren’t many guys on the floor who aren’t top of their teams in the NLL.”
The Lakers lead the best-ofseven final 3-2. Game 6 is Thursday and if necessary Game 7 is back in Peterborough at 5 p.m. Monday.
The winner will travel to B.C. to face the Victoria Shamrocks for the Mann Cup starting next week. Victoria clinched the WLA title in five games with a 9-8 win over the Maple Ridge Burrards on Sunday.
Nick Weiss scored on a breakaway 1:12 into the game after Matt Vinc made a big save. Shayne Jackson evened it 39 seconds later.
It was a trend through the opening 15 minutes with the Lakers taking four one-goal leads only to have the Chiefs even it in short order.
The Chiefs took their first lead at 17:05 after Vinc made two spectacular saves but couldn’t stop the third shot from Cody Jamieson.
A five-minute boarding penalty
to Brendan Bomberry was partially negated by a Robert Hope holding penalty and Jackson tallied with the teams playing four-on-four for a 6-4 lead after 20 minutes.
Matthews ripped two goals on the major power play in the opening 2:44 of the second to tie it 6-6. Joe Resetarits put the Lakers back in front at 5:49 but Shayne Jackson matched Matthews’ hat trick 42 seconds later.
Matthews restored the lead and Resetarits capped a threeway passing play from Cattoni and Turner Evans making it 9-7 at 14:03.
Like his nickname Moose, Kiel Matisz bulled his way past a check to drop a shot by Jamieson 3:31 into the third. Bomberry finished Durston’s feed at 7:07 cutting the Lakers’ lead to 10-8.
Cody Jamieson scored 10 seconds into a five-minute slashing major to Hope at 8:51. Randy Staats tied it 1:18 later on an outside shot.
Shawn Evans set up Josh Currier for a go-ahead goal with 7:13 remaining.
The Chiefs again responded 59 seconds later on Jackson’s fourth goal making it 11-11.
Jamieson snuck a shot past Vinc with 2:31 left but Zach Currier scored in transition at 18:12 for a 12-12 tie.
NOTES: Brock Sorensen was unavailable for Game 5 with work commitments. Jordan Stouros took his spot.… Peterborough native Broedie Birkhof made his series debut for Six Nations. He fought Bryce Sweeting after the final buzzer.… Sign-ups are taking place for a fan bus to game six Thursday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. Fans must call Diane Livingstone at 705-8745615 or 705-559-0636 by 10 a.m. Wednesday to reserve their spot. The bus costs $40 per person. Game tickets are purchased at the arena at $10 adults, $5 seniors/students and free for children under 11. The bus leaves at 4:30 p.m. from the Evinrude Centre.