Lakers Shut Down Rock to Take 2-1 Series Lead

By Gary Groob 

The Peterborough Lakers traveled west to face the Oakville Rock in game three of the best-of-five semi-final series at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario, sponsored by Bergmanis Preyra LLP. 

The goaltending match-up had Drew Hutchison in net for Peterborough facing Landon Kells in net for Oakville. 

The Peterborough Lakers used a strong defensive effort and a decisive second period to defeat the Oakville Rock 7-3 in game three of their best-of-five Major Series Lacrosse semi-final series Saturday night at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre. After a fast-paced opening period ended tied 1-1, Ryan Lanchbury broke the deadlock with back-to-back goals late in the second, including a power-play marker, before Colton Armitage struck just 26 seconds later. Rob Hellyer was the catalyst for the Lakers' offence, assisting on all three second-period goals as Peterborough carried a 4-1 advantage into the final frame despite Oakville holding a 35-32 edge in shots through 40 minutes.

Alex Simmons brought the Rock within two early in the third, but Drew Hutchison and the Peterborough defence shut the door from there. Thomas Hoggarth restored the three-goal cushion with a transition marker before Matt Gilray scored twice into the empty net to seal the 7-3 victory. Hutchison earned first-star honours with an outstanding performance in goal as Oakville finished with a 54-44 advantage in shots. The victory gives Peterborough a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series, with game four set for Tuesday, August 11 at 8 p.m. at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

To The Game:

 After half a period of end-to-end action, Peterborough finally found the back of the net on a tic-tac-toe play. Starting with Rob Hellyer finding Dylan Hutchison, a great pass to Colton Armitage had the Lakers in front at 10:42.  The Rock responded on a delayed penalty with Josh Dawick firing an Alex Simmons pass at 13:14 to tie the game.

After one period, Oakville 1 Peterborough 1.
Shots on goal favored the Lakers 18-14.

Second Period:

The end-to-end action continued in the second period with both teams getting plenty of opportunities. 

Ryan Lanchbury finally broke the deadlock with a pair of goals. The first was a sidearm snipe from the outside off a Rob Hellyer feed at 14:14, followed by a power-play marker from the top of the crease off a Rob Hellyer pass at 15:21.  Colton Armitage then scored a beauty crashing the crease off a Hellyer feed 26 seconds later. 

After two periods, Peterborough 4 Oakville 1.
Shots on goal favored the Rock 21-14.

Third Period:

The Rock opened the third period with Alex Simmons converting a Ryan Barker feed at 2:28.

Thomas Hoggarth then scored all alone in transition off a long lead pass from Jake Withers at 16:18, followed by an empty net marker from Matt Gilray off a Robert Hope pass at 18:19.

Oakville scored a late marker again with Alex Simmons converting a Sam LeClair pass at 19:00, but the Lakers added yet another empty net tally with Gilray again scoring off a Colton Armstrong pass at 19:10.

Final score, Peterborough 7 Oakville 3.
Shots on favored the Rock 19-12, for a game total of 54-44 in favor of Oakville. 

The Three Stars:

1. Drew Hutchison 
2. Ryan Lanchbury
3. Landon Kells 

The Peterborough Lakers take a 2-1 series lead with game four scheduled for Tuesday, August 11th at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough.  Game Time is 8 p.m.

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