Marinier and Knox combine for eight goals as the Kodiaks Hold On For 13-11 Victory

By Gary Groob 

The Cobourg Kodiaks (9-5) traveled west to face the Brampton Excelsiors (2-13) in Major Series Lacrosse action Thursday night at the Memorial Arena in Brampton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Gavin Williamson in net for the Kodiaks facing Connor O'Toole in net for the Excelsiors. 

Cobourg continued its late-season surge Thursday night, building a commanding early lead before holding off a determined Brampton comeback to earn a 13-11 victory at Memorial Arena. Alex Marinier paced the Kodiaks with four goals, while Jason Knox matched him with a four-goal performance as Cobourg improved to 9-5 on the season.

After Brampton answered Cobourg's opening goal, the Kodiaks took complete control of the first period. Marinier completed a first-period hat trick, Shane Halliwell added a goal, and Knox struck on the power play as Cobourg raced to a 5-1 lead after 20 minutes. The visitors extended the margin early in the second with goals from Aaron Woods and Marinier before Brampton found some life through Rory Graham, Tye Scott, and Mike Triolo. Knox continued his big night with his second goal to help the Kodiaks carry an 8-4 advantage into the third.

The Excelsiors refused to go quietly in the final frame, scoring seven times as Triolo, Curtis Ward, and Thomas McConvey led a furious rally. However, every Brampton push was answered by the Kodiaks. Woods, Andrew Vradenburg, Halliwell, and Knox all came up with timely goals to keep the home side at bay, allowing Cobourg to withstand the late pressure and come away with the 13-11 win.

To The Game:

The Kodiaks drew first blood with Alex Marinier blasting a Brock Haley pass at 2:54, but rhe Excelsiors answered right back with Reed Kurtz converting a Curtis Ward pass at 5:37.
Alex Marinier once again gave Cobourg the lead off a Jason Knox feed at 8:11, followed by a shot from Shane Halliwell through the five-hole off a Briley Maxwell pass at 10:14.

On a delayed penalty Marinier added his third of the period with a low to low laser off an Aaron Woods feed at 16:47, followed by Jason Knox on the power-play with a shot going across the top of the crease off a Brock Haley pass at 18:30.

After one period, Cobourg 5 Brampton 1.

Second Period:

The Kodiaks picked up where they left off with Aaron Woods converting a Shane Halliwell feed at 40 seconds, followed by Marinier with his fourth of the night with a blast off a Woods pass at 1:43.  

Rory Graham got Brampton back on the board with a shot from in tight off a long lead pass from Connor O'Toole in transition at 2:12, but Jason Knox replied by picking the corner off a Brock Haley pass at 3:46.

The Excelsiors started to fight back on the power-play with Tye Scott scoring from the side of the net off a Thomas McConvey pass at 14:55, followed by Mike Triolo from the top of the crease off a Julian Race pass at 17:51.

After two periods, Cobourg 8 Brampton 4.

Third Period:

Cobourg kept coming to start the third with Aaron Woods finishing a Briley Maxwell pass at 49 seconds, followed by Andrew Vradenburg going coast to coast unassisted at 1:02.

Rory Graham got one back for Brampton with a blast off a Thomas McConvey pass at 5:41, followed by Mike Triolo with his second of the game unassisted at 9:06.  Curtis Ward kept the Excelsiors comeback alive with a laser off a Mike Triolo pass at 10:40.

Jason Knox stopped the Brampton run with a laser to the top corner off an Owen Down pass at 11:08, but on the power-play Mike Triolo fired a bounced shot off a Thomas McConvey pass at 12:31.

The Kodiaks roared back with Shane Halliwell scoring from the top of the crease off a Jason Knox pass 21 seconds later, but Curtis Ward dove across the crease off a McConvey feed at 13:25.

Jason Knox again answered with his fourth of the game off an Aaron Woods pass at 13:56, but again the Excelsiors kept the game close with Thomas McConvey scoring back to back markers.

The first was a quick stick off a Tye Scott pass at 18:05, followed by a blast from the side of the net off a Cody Innes pass at 19:00.

Final score, Cobourg 13 Brampton 11.

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Marinier 
2. Jason Knox 
3. Mike Triolo