Balanced Brooklin Attack Overcomes Marinier's Monster Night

By Gary Groob 

The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (4-2) traveled east to face the Cobourg Kodiaks (1-3) in Major Series Lacrosse action Sunday evening at the Cobourg Community Centre in Cobourg, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Aden Walsh in net for Brooklin facing Jackson Brown in net for the Kodiaks. 

Brooklin survived a huge offensive performance from Alex Marinier and used its depth scoring to remain unbeaten, earning a 12-10 victory over Cobourg. The Kodiaks came out firing with Marinier scoring twice in the opening five minutes, but Brooklin answered with five of the next six goals. Chase Scanlon and Taggart Clark sparked the response, while Chris Boushy played the role of playmaker and finisher as Brooklin carried a 5-3 lead into the first intermission. Despite Marinier's continued heroics throughout the night, Brooklin consistently had an answer, getting goals from across the lineup and controlling much of the play through the opening forty minutes.

The second period proved to be the difference as Brooklin's offense found another gear. Landon Sinfield, Will MacLeod, Reilly O'Connor, Clark and Boushy all contributed during a six-goal frame that stretched the lead to four. Cobourg refused to go away, with Brock Haley and Marinier leading the charge, but the gap was too much to overcome. Marinier finished with an incredible seven-goal performance while Aaron Woods added a pair, yet Brooklin's balanced attack and a five-point night from Taggart Clark, along with another dominant performance from Chris Boushy, allowed the Brooklin Lacrosse Club to close out a 12-10 road victory and improve its perfect start to the season.

To The Game:

The Kodiaks came out flying, getting a pair of early goals from Alex Marinier. Marinier opened the scoring by finishing a Gareth Haigh pass from in front at 3:48, then struck again just over a minute later, scoring all alone from the top of the crease off an Aaron Woods feed at 4:51.

Brooklin responded in a hurry. Chase Scanlon got on the board with a strong move from in close off a Chris Boushy pass at 5:10, followed by Taggart Clark converting a bounced shot, also set up by Boushy, at 5:56. Scanlon then gave Brooklin its first lead of the night, finishing a Taggart Clark pass while charging down the middle at 9:17.

The Kodiaks answered when Aaron Woods scored in transition with a bounced shot off an Andrew Vradenburg feed at 13:59 to tie the game once again. However, Brooklin closed the period with momentum as Taggart Clark and Chris Boushy each found the back of the net late in the frame to give BLC a two-goal advantage heading into the intermission.

After one period, Brooklin 5 Cobourg 3.
Shots on goal were in favor of Brooklin 21-13.

Second Period:

Brooklin struck early in the second when Landon Sinfield blasted home a Chris Boushy feed at 2:51.

Belleville answered quickly as Alex Marinier finished from in close off a Tim Zdimal pass at 3:35, but just nine seconds later Chris Boushy restored the two-goal cushion, converting a Ben Kromer feed at 3:44.

Brooklin continued to push the pace with Will MacLeod wiring a laser from the outside off a Connor Kearnan pass at 6:41. However, Brock Haley kept the Kodiaks within striking distance, burying a power-play marker to the top corner at 9:56.

Alex Marinier completed a great individual effort, fighting his way to the net for his fourth goal of the game off an Andrew Vradenburg feed at 10:54. Brooklin responded once again as Taggart Clark scored back to back goals, his third and fourth of the night—both set up by Chris Boushy, giving Brooklin a four-goal advantage with just over five minutes remaining in the frame.

Reilly O'Connor added another for Brooklin off a Chase Scanlon pass at 15:50, but Brock Haley struck shorthanded with 45 seconds remaining in the period to keep Belleville within reach.

After two periods, Brooklin 11 Cobourg 7.
Shots on goal favored Brooklin 18-15.

Third Period:
Reilly O'Connor opened the third period scoring with a shot from in close unassisted at 0:23 seconds.

Cobourg replaced Jackson Brown with Gavin Williamson in net. 

Alex Marinier added his sixth of the game with a blast from the top of the crease off a Zach Thompson pass at 9:33, followed by Aaron Woods with a shovel shot from the outside off a Shane Halliwell pass at 11:51.

Alex Marinier scored his seventh of the night with a blast off an Alex Toguri pass at 19:42.

Final score, Brooklin 12 Cobourg 10.
Shots on goal favored Cobourg 21-13, for a game total of 54-52 in favor of Brooklin.

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Marinier 
2. Taggart Clark 
3. Chris Boushy 

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