BLC upend Chiefs in home opener

Photo by Sam Hossack

By Sam Laskaris

A David versus Goliath comparison might be a bit of a stretch.

But the squad many would have predicted would come out on top of Wednesday’s Major Series Lacrosse match in Whitby did not.

The host Brooklin Lacrosse Club, which had a youthful roster, ended up emerging victorious with an 11-10 overtime decision against the veteran-laden Six Nation Chiefs. 

“That’s a really good team that we just played,” said Brooklin rookie Zac Carrigan, who was the overtime hero, scoring at the 2:12 mark of the sudden-victory extra session. “It was unbelievable that we pulled that through. It was a really good game. It’s just crazy. That team is pretty stacked so it’s nice to get that one.”

Six Nations’ roster is almost entirely comprised of individuals who also toil professionally in the National Lacrosse League (NLL).

Brooklin head coach Jason Crosbie was also thrilled his young charges, who were playing in their home opener at the Iroquois Park Sports Complex, were able to hand the Chiefs, who are now 2-1, their first loss of the season.

Brooklin evened its mark at 1-1 with its win.

“We played an NLL team,” Crosbie said. “They’re an NLL team. There’s maybe one or two guys on that roster who is not an NLL player. This is something they won’t forget. They’re young. It was their first big game. And they’re going to remember playing against Six Nations and all the big boys. And it was a fun experience. They’re not going to forget this. They’re not. And I’m glad for them. They showed that they can play.”

The Brooklin side certainly did not show any signs of intimidation playing against the Chiefs. Brooklin led 4-0 by the midway point of the opening 20-minute period.

“We had a really good start,” Carrigan said. “We kind of tapered off there a bit in the second and third. But getting that early advantage was huge.”

Carrigan added the Chiefs perhaps underestimated the abilities of the Brooklin roster once they saw who was in their lineup.

“They might shrug us off a little bit because our full roster is obviously not back yet so teams might not look at us as being in the top tier,” Carrigan said. “But it’s all about what happens when you show up, how you play.”

Brooklin started off the OT period with a full two-minute powerplay. Carrigan had originally hoped he would end the match on that man advantage.

“We had a little play drawn up for me to shoot it,” he said. “It didn’t go off well. But I’m glad I got that second opportunity to get a shot off. I felt I could have put one in because I felt like I was due for one in the end.”

Carrigan’s game-winner was his third of the match.

Carrigan, a Nova Scotia native who recently moved to Ontario, has been performing double duty lately, suiting up for Brooklin and its Senior B affiliate Brooklin Merchants as well. He’s racked up a whopping 20 points, including 10 goals, in three games with the Merchants. And he now has eight points in his two BLC appearances. Carrigan doesn’t mind suiting up for both Brooklin teams.

“I’m happy to play as much lacrosse as possible,” he said. “So, we’ll see. I always wanted to come to Ontario and play some higher-level ball and try to get to the NLL.”

Meanwhile, Liam Osborne also had a hat trick for Brooklin on Wednesday. And the others who scored for Brooklin were Nolan Rutty, Luke Pilcher, Trent Boyd, Jack Travassos and Devin Pipher.

In his first start of the season Nick Damude shone between the pipes for Brooklin. Some of Damude’s best saves were early on when his side was working on its quick start.

Brooklin is now off until next Wednesday when it hosts the four-time defending Mann Cup champion Peterborough Lakers. The opening faceoff for that game is set for 8 p.m.

HIGHLIGHTS

BLC

LIAM OSBORNE 3G 1A

ZAC CARRIGAN 2G

DEVIN PIPHER 1G 3A

Chiefs

BRYAN  COLE 3G 1A

SHAYNE JACKSON 2G 1A

BRAD KRI 3A

AUSTIN  STAATS 2G

BOXSCORE