Liger pounces to lead Lakers over BLC in Game 1

Story and photo by Anna Taylor

The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers drew first blood in their opening round Major Series Lacrosse playoff series versus the Brooklin Lacrosse Club, winning 12-9 on a very rainy Thursday evening.

BOXSCORE

The Lakers led 6-2 after the first period and 8-2 in the second but Brooklin was far from rolling over and chipped away at the lead to come within three goals three separate times in the third period.

“I thought we had a good pace early in the game,” said Turner Evans. “As a team, we got off to a good start and got up on the scoreboard and then we kind of flattened out a bit as a team. Let them get back into the game. So there’s a couple things to clean up on our end in terms of pace of play, staying competitive the whole time and focusing on every shift.”

Evans scored the goal of the game, with a sleek backhand beauty that put the Lakers up 4-1 in the first period.

The game was marred by consistent special teams play. The Lakers were 5/7 on the power play with two shorthanded goals, while Brooklin was 2/9 on the power play with two shorthanded goals. 

Eli McLaughlin led the Lakers with four goals, while Holden Cattoni contributed a hat trick. Landon Kells made 44 saves including a number of point-blank saves as Brooklin looked to get in close on the young netminder.

Connor Kearnan led Brooklin with two goals and two assists. Riley Hutchcraft made 30 saves.

MSL Commissioner Lynn Withers presented Holden Cattoni with the league’s leading scorer award prior to the third period. Cattoni finished the regular season with 28 goals and 50 assists.

The Lakers travel to Whitbhy tomorrow for Game 2 at Iroquois Park Sports Centre at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on YourTV and streamed on the RogersTV Durham website.