Barnburner On Landsdowne

By Mark Stehlin

The Peterborough Lakers welcomed the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) to the Memorial Centre for game five last night in this Major Series Lacrosse semi-final series that was knotted at 2-2. The Lakers won the first two games while BLC were victors in the last two. By the time the Lakers faithful filed out to Landsdowne St. West, following the overtime thriller, BLC had the 8-7 win and series lead 3-2. The teams will meet at Iroquois Park Sports Centre for game six on Wednesday August 13 at 8:00 p.m.

It was Ryan Barnable who got the visitors on the board to tie the game, with his patented cross-crease dive to deposit the ball behind Lakers keeper Nick Rose. In game four, the BLC offensive onslaught saw Mike Hasen, Lakers head coach pull Rose. In the other net, BLC starter Zach Higgins returned to the pipes after Steven Orleman slotted in for two consecutive starts. Higgins thanked coach Joel Johnson for the decision by putting on a great display. He made an incredible save late in the dying seconds of the first as Rose was on the bench in favour of the extra attacker. Higgins stood tall and stoned Joe Resetarits just off his right shoulder with a save in tight. The Lakers outshot their guests 62-47 on the night. The first period ended tied at 1-1.

In a span of less than two minutes to start the second frame, BLC jumped out to a 4-1 lead after a three-goal unanswered run. Barnable notched two more goals in that frame. His first was a rocket that went in low on Rose and his second saw him dance across the front of the crease as the referee watched his feet before he dropped it into the Lakers net. The Lakers were not going away easy in this game especially in front of an announced crowd of 2,413 fans. The last 0:42 of the second frame saw three goals scored between the teams. Will MacLeod made it 6-2 for BLC. In quick succession, the Lakers scored twice in the final 0:24 including one with the clock showing 1.1 seconds remaining. Score after two 6-4 for BLC.

Connor Kearnan with his ninth of the series extended the BLC lead before 2024 Rookie of the Year in MLS, Braedon Saris scored for the Lakers. Interestingly, Saris will suit up for the Brooklin Merchants who will face the Six Nations Rivermen for the Clare Levack trophy as Ontario Sr B champs starting this weekend. Both teams will be at the Presidents Cup Sr B National Championships being hosted by the Merchants from August 23-30 in Whitby. Saris added another and Holden Cattoni with his second of the night tied the game at 7-7. With no further scoring it was off to overtime for these combatants.

The overtime period featured ebbs and flows as both sides were seeking an edge for the all-important winning goal. It was rookie Will MacLeod, chosen second overall by BLC at the 2025 MSL entry draft, who fired home the winner with 2:43 left in the 10-minute sudden death overtime period to send the visitors home up 3-2 in the series.

“It was exciting, got the job done on the road and excited to get home and hope for a big crowd on Wednesday. The coaches are giving me opportunities to get some looks and it’s good to cash them in but full credit to my teammates as we are spacing all over the floor and really gelling over these last three games,” said Ryan Barnable after his three-goal performance tonight. 

Scoring – Renaud (0,2) MacLeod (3,0) Westley (0,4) Clark (0,2) Lee (0,1) Miller (0,1) Garlent (0,1) Barnable (3,0) Kearnan (2,3)