Lakers Make A Statement In Big Win Over Excelsiors

(Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Lakers Instagram.)

By Gary Groob 

The Brampton Excelsiors (0-2) traveled east to face the Peterborough Lakers (1-1) at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario Thursday night in Major Series Lacrosse action. 

The goaltending match-up had Connor O'Toole in net for the Excelsiors facing Deacan Knott, in his first MSL start, in net for Peterborough.

The Peterborough Lakers delivered a dominant performance from start to finish Thursday night, overwhelming the Brampton Excelsiors 16-6. Powered by a relentless offensive attack, the Lakers erupted for seven first-period goals and never looked back, building a commanding 7-2 lead after twenty minutes. Justin Sykes and Braedon Saris each struck twice in the opening frame, while Taite Cattoni, Adam Thistlewaite, and Rob Hellyer joined the scoring parade as Peterborough exposed Brampton's defense early and often.

The Lakers continued to pour on the pressure over the final two periods, outscoring the Excelsiors 9-4 the rest of the way. Sykes finished with a hat trick, Cattoni added three goals of his own, and Peterborough received balanced contributions throughout the lineup, including the first Major Series Lacrosse goal of Mason Cree's career. In his first MSL start, Deacan Knott earned the victory between the pipes as the Lakers controlled the game at both ends of the floor. Despite a three-goal effort from Mike Triolo and a late push from Brampton's power play, Peterborough's depth, transition game, and 51-40 advantage in shots on goal secured an emphatic 16-6 victory.

To The Game:

The Lakers got on the board first when Braedon Saris scored on the power-play off a Justin Sykes pass at 1:54, followed by Taite Cattoni with a howitzer from the outside off an Adam Jay feed 0:13 seconds later. 

The Excelsiors got one back when Mark Watters hit a sidearm snipe at 4:41, but Justin Sykes blasted a Holden Cattoni feed at 6:10 to regain the two goal advantage. 

Adam Thistlewaite continued the Peterborough barrage wiring a Colton Armstrong pass in transition at 6:52, but Eric Ward then hit a bounced shot off a Michael Blaymires pass at 7:24.

Justin Sykes scored his second of the period off a Mike Robinson pass at 14:55, followed by Braedon Saris with his second of the game off a Rob Hellyer feed at 17:29.  Hellyer then ripped a laser off a Braedon Saris skipped pass at 18:42.

After one period, Peterborough 7 Brampton 2.

Second Period:

Taite Cattoni opened the second period scoring for Peterborough converting a Justin Sykes pass at 2:57, followed by a transition goal from Adam Jay off a Jake Withers pass at 7:22.

Mason Cree scored his first ever MSL goal converting a Jake Withers feed at 12:31, followed by Rob Hellyer with a low to low laser on a delayed penalty off a Mike Robinson pass at 15:32.

The Excelsiors finally got on the board in the second period with Mike Triolo going in all alone off a long lead pass from Reed Kurtz at 17:30.

After two periods, Peterborough 11 Brampton 3.

Third Period:

Justin Sykes opened the third period scoring with his third of the night off a Holden Cattoni pass at 0:48 seconds, followed by Holden Cattoni on a delayed penalty off a Mike Robinson feed at 2:10.

Robinson then joined the scoring for the Lakers driving to the net off a Mason Cree pass at 4:45, followed by an outside blast by Taite Cattoni off a Justin Sykes pass at 6:53.

Curtis Ward got Brampton on the board once again on the power-play with a low to low laser off a Mike Triolo pass at 7:40, followed by Michael Blaymires also scoring on the power-play with a bounced shot off a Mike Triolo pass at 12:29.  Triolo then got his third of the night converting a Josh Medeiros pass at 18:18.

Colton Armstrong added one more for good measure for Peterborough in transition at 19:15.

Final score, Peterborough 16 Brampton 6.
Shots on goal favored the Lakers 51-40.

The Three Stars:

1. Justin Sykes 
2. Taite Cattoni 
3. Deacan Knott 

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