Chiefs Turn Up The Pressure Late, Stay Perfect With Win Over NorthStars

Photo courtesy of @dillonsphotos705 

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Chiefs (8-0) traveled to face the Owen Sound NorthStars (0-7) in Major Series Lacrosse action Saturday night at the Eddie Bush Arena in Collingwood, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Doug Jamieson in net for the Chiefs facing Andrew Kidd in net for Owen Sound.  

The Owen Sound NorthStars gave the undefeated Six Nations Chiefs all they could handle early, jumping out to a pair of leads in a spirited first period. Xander Derkatz and Riley Ford spearheaded the NorthStars' attack, combining for seven points in the opening frame as Owen Sound battled stride-for-stride with the league leaders. However, Six Nations responded each time they fell behind, with Josh Byrne scoring twice and David Peterkin adding a key tally before Dawson Theede's late first-period marker gave the Chiefs their first lead of the night. Despite the NorthStars' strong start, Six Nations carried a narrow 5-4 advantage into the first intermission.

The Chiefs gradually took control in the final two periods, leaning on their depth and offensive firepower. Byrne completed a hat trick while Peterkin and Theede each scored twice, helping Six Nations build an 8-6 lead through forty minutes. Owen Sound remained within striking distance thanks to another goal from Derkatz and a delayed-penalty marker from Jeremy Searle, but the Chiefs' defense and goaltending tightened in the third period. Late goals from Brendan Bomberry and Theede sealed the victory as Six Nations outshot the NorthStars 49-33 and remained perfect on the season with a 10-6 win.

Photo courtesy of @dillonsphotos705 

To The Game:

Owen Sound opened the scoring quickly when Xander Derkatz blasted a Riley Ford pass in at 38 seconds, but an outside laser from Josh Byrne went five-hole to tie the game at 2:30.

The NorthStars' Riley Ford fired a bounced shot from the outside off a Xander Derkatz feed at 3:25, followed by Josh Rosa with a sidearm snipe off a Ford pass at 5:07 to open a two goal lead.

Josh Byrne's second of the game brought the Chiefs within one with a shot from in close unassisted at 8:04, followed by David Peterkin converting a Dhane Smith rebound at 10:59 to tie the game.

Xander Derkatz gave the NorthStars the lead once again with a low blast off a Riley Ford pass at 14:57, but Connor Costigan's first MSL goal knotted the game once more off a Nonkon Thompson pass at 15:45.

Dawson Theede then gave the Chiefs their first lead of the day with a low laser off a Cody Jamieson pass at 17:21.

After one period, Six Nations 5 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 25-15.

Second Period:

Owen Sound opened the second period scoring when Xander Derkatz found the back of the net from in close off a Callum Brennan pass on the power-play at 3:42, but an outside howitzer from Josh Byrne gave the Chiefs the lead once again at 5:39.

Dhane Smith then scored from the top of the crease off a David Peterkin pass at 7:22, but Jeremy Searle fired a sidearm snipe on a delayed penalty to bring the NorthStars within one at 9:34.

David Peterkin battled for the loose ball, scoring unassisted on a broken play at 11:24 to give Six Nations a two goal lead.

After two periods, Six Nations 8 Owen Sound 6.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 20-15.

Third Period:

After more than half a period of end to end action, Brendan Bomberry fired a high to high missile off a Josh Byrne pass at 12:45, followed by Dawson Theede with his second of the game from the inside at 16:47.  

Final score, Six Nations 10 Owen Sound 6.
Shots on favored the Chiefs 4-3, for a game total of 49-33 in favor of Six Nations. 

The Three Stars:

1. Josh Byrne 
2. Andrew Kidd 
3. Brendan Bomberry 

You can watch every minute of MSL action on FloLive - https://flosports.link/MSL