Marinier's 10-Goal Masterpiece Powers Kodiaks Past NorthStars

By Gary Groob 

The Cobourg Kodiaks (7-5) traveled west to face the Owen Sound NorthStars (1-12) in Major Series Lacrosse action Saturday night at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena in Owen Sound, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Laine Hruska in net for Cobourg facing Myles Playter in net for the NorthStars. 

Cobourg's offense exploded after a tightly contested opening period, turning a one-goal game into a runaway victory behind one of the most remarkable individual performances of the Major Series Lacrosse season. After leading just 2-1 through 20 minutes, the Kodiaks erupted for 13 goals over the next two periods, overwhelming Owen Sound 18-6 on Saturday night.

Alex Marinier was virtually unstoppable, scoring an incredible 10 goals while adding assists as he factored into the majority of Cobourg's offense. Jason Knox was equally instrumental, finishing with a dominant playmaking performance that included multiple goals and a pile of assists, while Aaron Woods added a pair of goals and several helpers. The Kodiaks' relentless attack broke the game open with a 13-goal second period that left little doubt about the outcome.  

Despite the lopsided score, Owen Sound continued to battle until the final buzzer, receiving multi-goal efforts from Josh Rosa and Carter Moran. Cobourg outshot the NorthStars 61-49 as Laine Hruska earned the victory between the pipes.

Of note, Tyson Morrison and Ethen Fines each celebrated their first Major Series Lacrosse goals for their respective clubs. 

To The Game:

After over sixteen minutes of very entertaining end to end action, Cobourg broke the scoreless tie with Jason Knox finding the top corner with a mean sidearm snipe off an Alex Marinier pass at 16:29.  Marinier himself then found the far corner with a rope off a Jason Knox feed at 18:48.

Josh Rosa brought the NorthStars within one in transition converting a Carter Coffey pass at 19:23.

After one period, Cobourg 2 Owen Sound 1.
Shots on goal were tied 20-20.

Second Period:

The Kodiaks came out in the second period on a mission.  Aaron Woods opened the scoring on a delayed penalty off an Alex Marinier pass at 2:45, followed by Will White from the side of the net off a Jason Knox feed at 3:43.

Marinier scored his second of the game with a quick stick off a Jason Knox pass at 5:51, followed by Aaron Woods with back to back markers from in close 1:28 apart making the score 7-1 at 7:59 of the frame.

Carter Moran got one back for the NorthStars with a bounced shot unassisted from the outside at 9:33, however the rest of the period was all Cobourg.

Alex Marinier took over, scoring the next four goals for the Kodiaks in just 2:01.  First was from the top of the crease off a Will White pass at 10:33, followed by a howitzer from the outside off a Jason Knox feed 25 seconds later.  

Marinier then scored again from out front off a Knox pass at 11:23, followed by a shot from the side of the net again off a Knox feed at 12:34.

Jason Knox continued the onslaught with a low to low shot from in close off a Marinier pass at 14:43.

Myles Playter was replaced in the NorthStars net with Jacob Flunny.

Alex Marinier continued his big night with his seventh goal of the evening with a low laser off an Aaron Woods feed at 15:31, followed by a laser to the corner off a Nick Bafia pass 15 seconds later.  

In a strange play, Kieran McKay fired a long lead pass to Nathan Pouliot, Jacob Flunny made the save, but the trail defenseman for Owen Sound knocked the ball into the net at 18:12.

After two periods, Cobourg 15 Owen Sound 2.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 21-12.

Third Period:

Myles Playter returned to the Owen Sound net.

Owen Sound showed some life to open the third period with Carter Moran scoring from the outside off a Xander Derkatz pass at 1:34, but the Kodiaks replied with Ethen Fines scoring his first MSL goal off an Aaron Woods pass at 8:15.

Owen Sound kept fighting.  With the goalie on the bench, Riley Ford fired an outside laser that beat Hruska off a Hunter Bricknell pass at 9:15, followed by Tyson Morrison with his first MSL goal finishing a Carter Moran feed at 10:55.

Alex Marinier continued his storied night scoring his ninth and tenth of the game back to back.  Marinier hit a sidearm blast from the side of the net off a Jason Knox pass at 11:41, followed by a highlight-reel goal jumping across the crease off a Tim Zdimal feed at 12:42.

Josh Rosa got a late goal for the NorthStars off a Callum Brennan pass at 17:09, but the game was already long in the books.

Final score, Cobourg 18 Owen Sound 6.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 20-17, for a game total of 61-49 in favor of Cobourg. 

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Marinier 
2. Jason Knox 
3. Ethen Fines

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