Darlison Delivers Late Heroics as Rock Escape Peterborough in 13-12 Thriller

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers Instagram page. 

By Gary Groob 

The Oakville Rock (10-4) traveled east to face the Peterborough Lakers (7-9) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Evan Constantopolous in net for the Rock facing Drew Hutchison in net for the Lakers. 

The Oakville Rock erased multiple deficits and survived a dramatic third-period swing to edge the Peterborough Lakers 13-12 Thursday night at the Memorial Centre. After a tightly contested opening 20 minutes that ended in a 3-3 deadlock, the teams traded goals throughout the second period before Oakville appeared to seize control with a four-goal burst highlighted by back-to-back markers just 13 seconds apart from Justin Lee and Chris Weier. Peterborough refused to fold, however, with Rob Hellyer and Daniel Clark narrowing the gap to 10-8 heading into the final frame.

The Lakers completed the comeback early in the third, scoring four straight goals to reclaim a 12-10 lead behind Colton Armitage, Ryan Lanchbury and Dylan Hutchison. Oakville answered when Sam LeClair struck on the power play before Carson Moyer tied the game with a spectacular crease dive. With just 32 seconds remaining, Jake Darlison scooped up a loose ball, raced the length of the floor and buried the game-winning goal to cap a thrilling back-and-forth battle. Oakville outshot Peterborough 55-48 and improved to 10-4 with the dramatic victory.

To The Game:

The Lakers got on the board first in transition with a long lead pass from Ryan Lanchbury to Braedon Saris beating Constantopolous at 4:12, but Jack MacAlpine answered from the top of the crease off an Alex Simmons pass at 6:48.

Daniel Clark gave Peterborough the lead again with a sidearm snipe off a behind the back pass from Rob Hellyer at 8:10, but Alex Simmons tied the game with a beautiful goal from the top of the crease off a Justin Lee pass at 10:36.

Holden Cattoni scored with a howitzer from the outside off a Colton Armstrong pass at 18:47, but Alex Simmons again replied for Oakville with a shot from in close off an Ethan Harkins pass at 19:09.

After one period, Oakville 3 Peterborough 3.Shots on goal favored the Rock 20-18.

Second Period:

The Lakers opened the second period scoring with a blast from Colton Armitage off a Rob Hellyer pass at 4:09, but Isiah Moran-Weekes tied the game with a shot from in close off a Sam LeClair feed at 5:12.

Carson Moyer then gave the Rock their first lead with a rope to the far corner from in close off a Justin Lee pass at 6:45, but Braedon Saris fired a laser from the outside off a Colton Armitage pass at 8:29 to tie the game.

The Lakers regained the lead with Colton Armitage firing from in tight off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 10:23, but Justin Lee tied the game from the top of the crease off a Carson Moyer pass at 12:27.

Chris Weier then gave the Rock the lead going coast to coast off a loose ball unassisted in transition at 13:23, followed by Justin Lee with his second of the game just 13 seconds later off the faceoff win from Jack Travassos.   

Nolan Marshall then increased the Rock lead going coast to coast off a turnover from a Ryan Barker feed at 15:08, followed by Ethan Harkins with a quick stick off a behind the back pass from Alex Simmons at 16:06.

The Lakers replaced Drew Hutchison with Nick Rose in net.

Rob Hellyer stopped the bleeding with a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Braedon Saris pass at 16:53, followed by Daniel Clark scoring shorthanded off a Rob Hellyer feed at 17:43.

After two periods, Oakville 10 Peterborough 8.Shots on goal favored the Rock 20-15.

Third Period:

The Lakers opened the third period with Liam Patten scoring a beauty from in close off a Daniel Clark pass at 1:48, followed by Colton Armitage with his third of the game from the top of the crease off a Rob Hellyer feed to tie the game at 3:05.

Ryan Lanchbury then gave Peterborough the lead in this see-saw affair with a bounced shot off a Braedon Saris pass at 5:28, followed by Dylan Hutchison with a blast off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 8:28.

The Rock replaced Evan Constantopolous with Landon Kells in net. 

Sam LeClair brought Oakville within one on the power-play with a blast from the side of the net off a Justin Lee pass at 16:16, followed by a great move from Carson Moyer with a crease dive off an Ethan Harkins pass at 17:00 to again tie the game.  Jake Darlison then took a loose ball coast to coast scoring unassisted from in close at 19:28.

Final score, Oakville 13 Peterborough 12.Shots on goal favored the Lakers 15-14, for a game total of 55-48 in favor of the Rock.

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Simmons 

2. Colton Armitage 

3. Carson Moyer 

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