Brooklin Survives Lakers Rally in Back-and-Forth Battle

By Gary Groob 

The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (3-2) traveled east to face the Peterborough Lakers (2-3) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario.  This night was John Grant Jr. Hall of Fame night.

The goaltending match-up had Steve Orleman in net for Brooklin facing Nick Rose in net for the Lakers.

Brooklin and Peterborough traded punches all night in a fast-paced, high-skill affair that featured five lead changes and several momentum swings. The Brooklin Lacrosse Club (BLC) struck first through Will MacLeod, but the Lakers answered with back-to-back goals from Dylan Hutchison and Brad McCulley to grab an early advantage. Brooklin responded late in the opening frame with goals from Taggart Clark and Dan Lintner to reclaim the lead, then weathered another Peterborough surge in the second period. Rob Hellyer's pair of goals helped the Lakers move back in front, but Brooklin continued to answer every challenge, getting timely tallies from Clark, Jaxon Jaxon Raposo, and Landon Sinfield to carry a slim 6-5 lead into the final period.

The third period delivered even more drama as Peterborough twice battled back from deficits behind the offensive brilliance of Hellyer and Justin Sykes. Every time the Lakers appeared poised to seize control, Brooklin found an answer. Chase Scanlon, Ryan Barnable, Connor Kearnan, and a pair of clutch goals from MacLeod kept the BLC attack rolling, while Scanlon's late power-play marker provided valuable insurance. Despite four goals from Hellyer and a determined Lakers comeback effort, Brooklin's balanced scoring attack and ability to respond in key moments proved to be the difference as they escaped with an entertaining 12-10 victory.

To The Game:

Brooklin opened the scoring with an outside shot from Will MacLeod off a Landon Sinfield pass at 6:56.

The Lakers stormed back with a blast from Dylan Hutchison that trickled past Orleman who made the original save at 11:04, followed by a laser from Brad McCulley off a Robert Hope feed in transition 0:33 seconds later.

Taggart Clark evened the score converting a "thread the needle" feed from Will MacLeod at 14:25, followed by Dan Lintner scoring off an interception from Ryan Barnable at 18:55 giving Brooklin the lead once again.

After one period, Brooklin 3 Peterborough 2.

Second Period:

The Lakers got on track early with a pair of goals from Rob Hellyer.  The first came unassisted from in close at 2:54, followed by a blast off a Cam Milligan pass at 5:35 to take the lead.

Brooklin came back with Taggert Clark wiring a shot past Nick Rose unassisted at 7:28, followed by Jackson Raposo at 9:30 to give BLC the lead once again in this see-saw affair.

Brad McCulley then tied the game with his second of the game with a blast off a Rob Hellyer feed at 13:43, but Landon Sinfield answered with an outside laser off a Will MacLeod pass at 17:36.

After two periods, Brooklin 6 Peterborough 5.

Third Period:

Rob Hellyer tied the game early in the third on the power-play off a Mike Robinson pass at 0:28 seconds, but goals from Chase Scanlon and Ryan Barnable just 0:38 seconds apart gave the BLC their biggest lead of the night at 2:16.

Hellyer scored his fourth of the game to get the Lakers within one shorthanded converting a Taite Cattoni pass at 5:29, followed by Justin Sykes blasting a Hellyer feed at 8:12 to tie the game.

Will MacLeod replied for Brooklin with a pair. The first was a sidearm snipe off a Dan Lintner pass at 9:51, followed by an outside blast off a Chase Scanlon pass at 11:12.

Cam Milligan brought Peterborough within one once again with a low shot that found the corner at 11:56, but Connor Kearnan answered immediately scoring just 0:20 seconds later off a Landon Sinfield pass. 

Justin Sykes pulled the Lakers within one again from in front of the net off a Jake Withers pass at 13:53, but Chase Scanlon's outside shot on the power-play at 16:29 restored the two goal lead.

Final score, Brooklin 12 Peterborough 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Will MacLeod 
2. Rob Hellyer 
3. Chase Scanlon 

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