Excelsiors Rally From Four Down to Stun Kodiaks in Cobourg

Photo courtesy of the Brampton Excelsiors Instagram Page

By Gary Groob 

The Brampton Excelsiors (2-8) traveled east to face the Cobourg Kodiaks (4-4) in Major Series Lacrosse action Sunday evening at the Cobourg Community Centre in Cobourg, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Connor O'Toole in net for the Excelsiors facing Laine Hruska in net for the Kodiaks.

The Brampton Excelsiors erased an early four-goal deficit and delivered one of their most complete performances of the season, rallying for a 12-10 road victory over the Cobourg Kodiaks on Sunday night. After trailing 4-0 less than halfway through the opening period, the Excelsiors stormed back with four unanswered goals to tie the game before intermission, setting the stage for a back-and-forth battle the rest of the way. Thomas McConvey and Josh Medeiros spearheaded the attack, while Brampton capitalized on timely scoring and key defensive stops to improve to 2-8 on the season.

Cobourg outshot Brampton 68-49, but the Excelsiors made the most of their opportunities. McConvey took over in the second half with a series of clutch goals, including a highlight-reel diving finish and an insurance marker late in the third period. Alex Marinier recorded a hat trick for the Kodiaks, while David Anderson added two goals in the loss. Despite the heavy shot advantage, Cobourg couldn't solve Connor O'Toole often enough as Brampton completed an impressive comeback victory.

To The Game:

Cobourg opened the scoring with Alex Marinier blasting a low to low laser off an Aaron Woods pass at 1:15, followed by Zach Thompson down the middle off a David Anderson feed at 2:56.

Shane Halliwell added the next Kodiaks goal on a great individual effort off a broken play unassisted at 7:10, followed by Marinier with his second of the game with an outside howitzer off an Aaron Woods feed at 10:13.

The Excelsiors fought back with Erich Acton firing a high to low blast that found the back of the net off a Nate Ruff pass at 14:19, followed by Josh Medeiros in transition off a long lead pass from Connor O'Toole 36 seconds later.  

Colin Maher then brought the Excelsiors within one finishing a Rory Graham pass at 16:28, followed by Tye Ingram in transition off a Josh Medeiros feed at 17:42 to tie the game.

After one period, Brampton 4 Cobourg 4.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 22-19.

Second Period:

Brampton picked up where they left off in the first with Josh Medeiros converting a Thomas McConvey pass on the power-play at 3:17, followed by McConvey himself with a sidearm snipe off a Curtis Ward feed 20 seconds later. 

Cobourg got back on track with Aaron Woods scoring from in close off a Briley Maxwell pass at 4:36, followed by a howitzer from David Anderson from the outside off an Aaron Toguri pass at 4:53 to tie the game.

Curtis Ward gave Brampton the lead in transition being sent in all alone off a Julian Race pass at 5:21, but David Anderson hit a high to high shot off an Aaron Toguri feed 22 seconds later to again knot the game.

Thomas McConvey then scored a highlight-reel beauty diving across the crease off a Ben Baker pass at 10:50 for the Excelsiors. 

After two periods, Brampton 8 Cobourg 7.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 26-15.

Third Period:

Brock Haley got Cobourg even to start the third finishing a Zach Thompson pass from in front at 2:50, but Thomas McConvey gave the Excelsiors the lead once more with a blast off a Curtis Ward feed 29 seconds later. 

On a delayed penalty, Brampton increased their lead with Colin Maher finishing a Tye Scott pass from the side of the net at 8:54, but Alex Marinier's third of the night off a Brock Haley pass had the Kodiaks just down by a goal at 12:42.

Thomas McConvey converted a Tye Scott pass with a quick stick to a wide empty side of the net at 14:33 to give Brampton a bit of breathing room, but Zach Thompson replied on the power-play with a shot off the crossbar from a Brock Haley pass at 15:50.

Josh Medeiros scored into an empty night off a Thomas McConvey rebound at 19:51 to seal the deal.

Final score, Brampton 12 Cobourg 10.
Shots on goal favored Cobourg 20-15, for a game total of 68-49 in favor of the Kodiaks.

The Three Stars:

1. Thomas McConvey 
2. Connor O'Toole 
3. Alex Marinier 

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