Chiefs Hold Off Kodiaks to Take Commanding 2-0 Series Lead

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Chiefs faced the Cobourg Kodiaks in game two of their Major Series Lacrosse semi-finals Thursday night at the Jack Burger Arena in Port Hope, Ontario, sponsored by Bergmanis Preyra LLP.

The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the Chiefs facing Laine Hruska in net for the Kodiaks. 

The Six Nations Chiefs weathered a determined Cobourg comeback Thursday night, defeating the Kodiaks 11-9 at the Jack Burger Arena to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five Major Series Lacrosse semi-final series. Six Nations jumped out to a 4-1 first-period advantage behind goals from Dhane Smith, Tim Edwards, Lyle Thompson and Andrew Kew, but Cobourg came roaring back in the second. Aaron Woods led the charge, scoring four times through the opening two periods as the Kodiaks erased the deficit and knotted the game 6-6 midway through the second.

The Chiefs responded immediately when it mattered most, scoring three unanswered goals from Shayne Jackson, Ian MacKay and Brad Kri to regain control and take a 9-7 lead into the third. Tyson Bell's coast-to-coast transition goal provided some breathing room before Shane Halliwell and Taylor Dooley pulled Cobourg back within one late. Kason Tarbell finally sealed the 11-9 victory with an empty-net marker at 19:31.

To The Game:

The Chiefs got on the board first with a blast from Dhane Smith off a Chris Cloutier feed at 1:35, followed by Tim Edwards in transition off a Nonkon Thompson pass at 5:05.  Lyle Thompson then finished a Dhane Smith pass at 9:16.
Aaron Woods got the Kodiaks on the board with a blast off a Brock Haley pass at 13:27, but  a quick stick from Andrew Kew off a Cody Jamieson pass had the Chiefs up by three at the break.

After one period, Six Nations 4 Cobourg 1.

Second Period:

Aaron Woods got Cobourg rolling early converting a Zach Thompson pass at 2:23, but Chris Cloutier answered with a sidearm snipe off a Graeme Hossack feed at 3:53.

Brock Haley struck with back-to-back markers.  The first a blast off a Thompson feed at 5:41, followed by a low-to-low laser off an Aaron Woods pass at 8:30.

Andrew Kew blasted a low bounced shot that found the back of the net unassisted at 9:22, but back-to-back markers from Aaron Woods knotted the game 6-6 at 13:10.

Six Nations erupted for three unanswered goals.  Shayne Jackson hit a quick stick off a Lyle Thompson pass at 14:53, followed by Ian MacKay with an in-close effort off a Thompson feed as well 11 seconds later.  Brad Kri then struck in transition off an Andrew Kew pass at 18:02.

Shane Halliwell kept Cobourg close with an outside blast off a Brock Haley pass at 18:21.

After two periods, Six Nations 9 Cobourg 7.

Third Period:

After almost half a period of end-to-end action, Tyson Bell scored in transition going coast to coast at 7:26.

Shane Halliwell scored his second of the game off an Aaron Woods pass 13:13, followed by Taylor Dooley with a great individual effort unassisted at 17:43 to bring the Kodiaks within one. 

Kason Tarbell added an empty net marker unassisted at 19:31 to seal the deal. 

Final score, Six Nations 11 Cobourg 9.

The Three Stars:

1. Aaron Woods 
2. Lyle Thompson 
3. Brock Haley 

Six Nations takes a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series, with game three going at the ILA Saturday evening.   Game Time is 7 p.m.

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