Lakers Withstand Furious Chiefs Comeback to Even MSL Finals

By Gary Groob

Sponsored by Bergmanis Preyra LLP
The Six Nations Chiefs traveled east to face the Peterborough Lakers in Game Four of the Major Series Lacrosse Finals at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario.

The goaltending matchup had Nick Rose in net for the Lakers facing Warren Hill in net for Six Nations.

The Peterborough Lakers built a commanding early advantage and held on to defeat the Six Nations Chiefs 12-8 in Game Four of the Major Series Lacrosse Finals. Peterborough scored six unanswered goals in the opening period and carried an 11-2 lead into the third behind four goals from Taite Cattoni and a dominant performance from Ryan Lanchbury. The Lakers also capitalized on special teams, scoring four times on the power play while adding a shorthanded marker from Matt Gilray.

Six Nations mounted a furious third-period comeback, scoring six consecutive goals and outshooting Peterborough 29-7 in the final frame. Andrew Kew and Ryan Smith each scored twice during the rally, reducing the Lakers’ lead to three before Gilray sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. The win ties the best-of-seven championship series 2-2 heading into Game Five on Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.

To The Game:

Peterborough opened the scoring quickly, with Justin Sykes converting a Ryan Lanchbury pass from the top of the crease just 55 seconds into the game. Thomas Hoggarth followed with a low-to-low laser off a Colton Armstrong pass at 4:26.

Taite Cattoni then extended the Lakers’ lead with a pair of outside lasers. His first was a low bouncer off a Ryan Lanchbury feed at 8:24, followed by a howitzer that caught the corner off a Rob Hellyer pass at 12:34.

The Chiefs replaced Warren Hill with Doug Jamieson in net.

Ryan Lanchbury added a power-play marker with an underhand blast off a Braedon Saris pass at 18:02, followed by Brad McCulley converting another power-play opportunity off a skip pass from Lanchbury at 19:04.

After one period, Peterborough 6, Six Nations 0.

Shots on goal favored the Lakers 23-17.

Second Period:

The Lakers picked up where they left off, with Braedon Saris converting a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 4:14. Taite Cattoni then completed the hat trick with a blast to the top corner off a Rob Hellyer pass on the power play at 9:34.

Cattoni added his fourth of the game on another power play, finishing a Hellyer pass at 12:35.

Lyle Thompson finally got the Chiefs on the board in transition while shorthanded, converting a Graeme Hossack feed at 13:24. However, Matt Gilray halted any potential Six Nations momentum with a shorthanded marker off a Jake Withers pass at 16:30.

Dawson Theede scored on the power play with an underhand shot from in close off a Dhane Smith pass at 16:54, but a bounced shot from distance by Rob Hellyer once again stopped the Chiefs’ momentum at 19:17.

After two periods, Peterborough 11, Six Nations 2.

Shots on goal favored the Lakers 20-18.

Third Period:

Warren Hill returned to the Chiefs’ net to begin the third period.

After more than half a period of scoreless play, Dhane Smith opened the third-period scoring on the power play with a blast from in close off a Randy Staats pass at 12:53. Dawson Theede then fired a rope to the corner off a Shayne Jackson pass at 13:47.

Andrew Kew added back-to-back markers for the Chiefs, firing a pair of outside lasers just 51 seconds apart to cut the Lakers’ lead to five at 15:05.

Ryan Smith followed with a pair of power-play goals, suddenly reducing the deficit to three. However, Matt Gilray sealed the victory for Peterborough with an empty-net goal off a Jake Withers pass at 19:28.

Tempers boiled over near the end of the game, setting the stage for Game Five on Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.

Final score: Peterborough 12, Six Nations 8.

Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 29-7 in the third period and 64-50 overall.

The Three Stars:
1. Ryan Lanchbury
2. Taite Cattoni
3. Andrew Kew

The best-of-seven series is now tied 2-2, with Game Five scheduled for Thursday, August 27, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Hagersville, Ontario. Game time is 8 p.m.

Watch every minute of MSL action on FloLive:
https://flosports.link/MSL