Cloutier, Smith Lead Chiefs to Convincing Game One Win

By Gary Groob 

The Cobourg Kodiaks traveled west to face the Six Nations Chiefs in the Major Series Lacrosse semi-finals Tuesday evening at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, sponsored by Bergmanis Preyra LLP. 

The goaltending match-up had Laine Hruska in net for Cobourg facing Warren Hill in net for the Chiefs. 

Six Nations seized control early and never looked back, defeating the Cobourg Kodiaks 15-7 Tuesday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena to take a 1-0 lead in their Major Series Lacrosse semi-final series. After Alex Marinier opened the scoring for Cobourg less than a minute into the game, the Chiefs answered with six of the next seven goals, powered by two first-period markers from Josh Byrne and a pair from Ryan Smith, to build a commanding 6-2 lead after 20 minutes. The offensive pressure continued in the second period as Six Nations added six more goals to stretch the advantage to 12-4 heading into the final frame.

Cobourg continued to battle in the third period with Aaron Woods scoring his second of the night, while Marinier and Shane Halliwell also found the back of the net, but the Chiefs matched every push to secure the convincing victory. Chris Cloutier led the way with a dominant performance to earn first-star honours, Ryan Smith added a multi-goal effort, and Aaron Woods was a bright spot for the Kodiaks with two goals. With the win, Six Nations grabs a 1-0 series lead as the best-of-five semifinal shifts to Port Hope for Game Two on Thursday night.

To The Game:

The Kodiaks got on the board first with Alex Marinier blasting an Aaron Woods pass at 56 seconds, but Six Nations stormed back with a pair.

Josh Byrne tied the game from in close, unassisted, at 3:12, followed by an outside laser from Ryan Smith off a Dhane Smith feed 24 seconds later. 

Shane Halliwell tied the game with a blast off an Alex Marinier pass at 10:10, but Josh Byrne's second of the period from the outside regained the Six Nations lead at 12:52.

Chris Cloutier got on the scoresheet for the Chiefs with a shot from the side of the net off a Lyle Thompson pass at 13:20, followed by Ryan Smith scoring from the top of the crease off a Thompson feed at 17:54.  Brad Kri then added a bounced shot off a Dawson Theede pass at 18:31.

After one period, Six Nations 6, Cobourg 2.

Second Period:

Latrell Harris opened the second period scoring with a bounced shot off an Andrew Kew pass at 4:23, followed by a shorthanded marker from Ian MacKay with a behind-the-back shot off a long lead pass from Warren Hill at 7:10.

Aaron Woods  got the Kodiaks back on track with a great individual effort in transition, unassisted at 7:49, but Dawson Theede replied with a shot from in close off a Matt Marinier pass at 10:25.

Chris Cloutier added his second of the night with a blast off a Lyle Thompson pass at 10:46, followed by Dawson Theede's second of the period with a low laser off a Dhane Smith pass at 16:37.

Brock Haley showed the Kodiaks still had fight with a laser to the corner off a Thunder Hill pass at 17:55, but Brendan Bomberry answered with a shot from in close off a Chris Cloutier feed at 19:42.

After two periods, Six Nations 12, Cobourg 4.

Third Period:

Aaron Woods opened the third period scoring with a blast to the top corner off a Brock Haley pass at 4:33, but a low shot from the outside from Brendan Bomberry found the back of the net off a Chris Cloutier feed at 11:39.

Nonkon Thompson added an unassisted tally for the Chiefs at 12:14, but Alex Marinier hit a laser from the outside off a Thunder Hill pass at 12:37.

The Kodiaks kept battling with Shane Halliwell finishing an Alex Marinier pass at 12:58, but a tic-tac-toe play from Nonkon Thompson to Andrew Kew, finished by Brendan Bomberry at 17:32, kept the Chiefs in total control. 

Final score, Six Nations 15, Cobourg 7.

The Three Stars:

1. Chris Cloutier 
2. Ryan Smith 
3. Aaron Woods 

Six Nations takes a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.  Game two goes Thursday night at the Jack Burger Arena in Port Hope, Ontario.   Game time is 8:30 p.m.

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