Brooklin Keeps Playoff Hopes Alive With Narrow Victory Over Excelsiors

By Gary Groob 


The Brampton Excelsiors (3-14) traveled east to face the Brooklin Lacrosse Club (8-8) in Major Series Lacrosse action Wednesday at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Riley Hutchcraft in net for the Excelsiors facing Aden Walsh in net for Brooklin. 

The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (8-8) survived a determined comeback effort from the Brampton Excelsiors (3-14), earning a hard-fought 10-8 victory Wednesday night at Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby.

Brooklin (BLC) came out flying, but Brampton answered every challenge throughout the opening 40 minutes. The clubs traded goals in an entertaining first period before the BLC carried a narrow 4-3 advantage into the intermission. Dylan Watson's second goal of the night extended the lead in the middle frame, but Thomas McConvey continued to keep the Excelsiors within striking distance as Brooklin held a slim 5-4 edge after two periods.

The third period turned into an offensive showcase as the teams combined for nine goals. Chris Boushy, Connor Kearnan, Cam Acchione, Dyson Williams, and Reilly O'Connor each delivered timely goals for Brooklin whenever Brampton fought back. The Excelsiors answered repeatedly behind an outstanding performance from McConvey, who erupted for five goals, while Mike Triolo added two goals and five assists. Despite tying the game twice in the final frame and cutting the deficit to one with just 16 seconds remaining, but Brampton couldn't find the equalizer before time expired.

To The Game:

Brooklin got off to a quick start with Dyson Williams finishing a Cam Acchione pass running across the top of the crease at 24 seconds,  but Curtis Ward tied the game with a blast from in front off a Thomas McConvey pass at 2:46.

The Excelsiors took their first lead of the night  with Mike Triolo also scoring from in close off a Reed Kurtz pass at 6:21, but Dylan Watson then scored off a Connor Kearnan pass to knot the game up again at 9:58.

Will MacLeod then gave the BLC the lead with another goal from in tight off a Chris Boushy pass at 11:11, followed by Reilly O'Connor converting a Dylan Watson feed from the side of the net at 19:09.

Thomas McConvey got the Excelsiors back within one with a buzzer beater on the power-play firing a laser from the outside off a Mike Triolo pass at 19:59.

After one period, Brooklin 4 Brampton 3.
Shots on goal favored the BLC 16-13.

Second Period:

Dylan Watson increased the Brooklin lead with a sidearm snipe off a Chris Boushy pass at 9:37, but Brampton again got within one goal when Thomas McConvey scored his second of the game off a Mike Triolo feed at 16:02.

After two periods, Brooklin 5 Brampton 4.
Shots on goal favored the BLC 24-17.

Third Period:

Chris Boushy opened the third period scoring with a one handed dunk from behind the net off a Reilly O'Connor pass at 30 seconds for Brooklin. 

However, on a delayed penalty,  Tye Scott wired a sidearm laser off a Thomas McConvey pass at 2:40, followed by Thomas McConvey with his third of the game from in front putting Mike Triolo's rebound over Aden Walsh's shoulder at 3:18.

Brooklin regained the lead on a delayed penalty with a blast from Connor Kearnan at the top of the crease off a Reilly O'Connor feed at 4:27, followed by Cam Acchione going in all alone off a bounce pass from Mike Byrne 33 seconds later.

Mike Triolo again brought the Excelsiors within one on the power-play with a howitzer off a Thomas McConvey pass at 6:29, followed by McConvey himself with his fourth of the night from in front off a Triolo pass at 11:31 to again tie the game.

Dyson Williams beat Riley Hutchcraft with a sidearm snipe off a Chris Boushy pass at 13:42, followed by Reilly O'Connor finding the top corner on a great individual effort off a Dyson Williams pass at 15:01.

Thomas McConvey scored his fifth of the game to get the Excelsiors within one at 19:44, but Brampton just plain ran out of time.

Final score, Brooklin 10 Brampton 9.
Shots on goal favored the BLC 19-18, for a game total of 59-48 in favor of Brooklin. 

The Three Stars:

1. Thomas McConvey 
2. Dyson Williams 
3. Connor Kearnan 

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