Excelsiors Score Final Four Goals to Rally Past NorthStars

By Gary Groob 

The Owen Sound NorthStars (0-4) faced the Brampton Excelsiors (1-3) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Andrew Kidd in net for the NorthStars facing Riley Hutchcraft in net for the Excelsiors. 

After falling behind 4-1 after the opening frame, Owen Sound mounted a furious comeback in the second period, scoring six times to completely flip the game. Riley Ford sparked the rally with back-to-back goals before Josh Rosa, Greg Elijah-Brown, Xander Derkatz, and Dylan Watson all found the back of the net in a dominant middle stanza. What had been a comfortable Brampton lead quickly turned into a 7-5 NorthStars advantage heading into the final twenty minutes, as Owen Sound's transition game and offensive pressure overwhelmed the Excelsiors.

Brampton refused to fold, however, and delivered a strong response in the third period. Kealon Pilon opened the comeback on the power-play before Cody Innes tied the game less than two minutes later. With the contest hanging in the balance, veteran Mike Triolo buried the eventual game-winner off a Jake McNabb feed with just over four minutes remaining. Erich Acton then added an insurance marker late, capping off a four-point night and sealing a dramatic 9-7 Excelsiors victory.

To The Game:

The Excelsiors wasted no time getting started with Erich Acton converting a Mike Triolo pass at 2:40, but the NorthStars replied with Greg Elijah-Brown finishing a Callum Brennan feed at 3:25 to tie the game.

Newly acquired Alexis Simard gave Brampton the lead once again in transition unassisted at 7:27, followed by Kealon Pilon with a power-play marker off an Erich Acton pass at 10:34.  Eric Ward then added another Excelsiors tally also finishing an Acton feed at 15:22.

After one period, Brampton 4 Owen Sound 1.

Second Period:

Riley Ford got Owen Sound rolling early scoring back to back markers.  The first from the top of the crease off a Dylan Watson pass at 1:15, followed by a dive from behind the net off a Callum Brennan feed at 3:12.  

Josh Rosa then tied the game with a shovel shot from in front off a Callum Brennan pass at 5:41, followed by Greg Elijah-Brown with his second of the game converting a Xander Derkatz pass at 6:27.  Derkatz then joined the scoring frenzy with a low to low laser from the top of the crease off a Josh Rosa feed at 7:01.

Curtis Ward finally stopped the NorthStars run with a high to high shot off a Mike Triolo pass at 8:44, but a late goal from Dylan Watson restored the Owen Sound two goal lead at 16:35.

After two periods, Owen Sound 7 Brampton 5.

Third Period:

Brampton pulled within one when Kealon Pilon scored on the power-play off a Jake McNabb feed at 4:08, followed by Cody Innes finishing a Mike Triolo pass at 5:37 to tie the game.  

Mike Triolo then gave the Excelsiors the lead with a blast from in close off a Jake McNabb feed at 15:51, followed by Erich Acton converting a Cody Innes pass at 18:12.

Final score, Brampton 9 Owen Sound 7.

The Three Stars:

1. Erich Acton 
2. Mike Triolo 
3. Riley Ford 

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