Rock Respond With Dominant Third Period To Sink NorthStars

By Gary Groob 

The Oakville Rock (6-2) traveled to face the Owen Sound NorthStars (1-8) in Major Series Lacrosse action Saturday evening at the Eddie Bush Arena in Collingwood, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Evan Constantopolous in net for the Rock facing Andrew Kidd in net for the NorthStars. 

The Oakville Rock overcame a spirited comeback effort from the Owen Sound NorthStars, erupting for six third-period goals to earn a hard-fought 12-9 victory Saturday night. Alex Simmons delivered a dominant offensive performance with five goals and three assists, while Josh Dawick orchestrated the attack with four assists as the Rock improved to 6-2 on the season. Oakville built an early three-goal lead, only to see Owen Sound storm back with five unanswered goals in the second period to take a surprising 7-6 advantage into the final frame.

The Rock responded regaining control with six of the final eight goals of the game. Carson Moyer scored twice early in the third to spark the rally before Simmons and Isiah Moran-Weekes put the game out of reach. Owen Sound showed plenty of resilience behind multi-goal efforts from Jackson Webster and Bobby O'Grady, but Oakville's offensive firepower proved to be the difference as they closed out the victory.

To The Game:

The Rock got off to a fast start with Alex Simmons scoring from the outside off a Josh Dawick pass at 1:36, but Riley Ford answered in transition off a great pass from Jake Rosa at 2:31.

Alex Simmons came back with goal from in close coming out of the corner off a Luke Dawick pass at 3:15, but again the NorthStars replied with Carter Coffey scoring in transition going coast to coast off a pass from Andrew Kidd at 6:10.

Oakville took over second half of the period with a quick stick from Isiah Moran-Weekes off a Jake Darlison feed from in close at 10:40, followed by Alex Simmons' third of the game from in front off a long lead pass from Josh Dawick at 16:28.  Sam LeClair then converted a Carson Moyer feed with a sidearm laser to the corner at 17:16.

After one period, Oakville 5 Owen Sound 2.
Shots on goal favored the NorthStars 12-8.

Second Period:

Alex Simmons opened the second period scoring with his fourth goal jumping across the crease off a Josh Dawick pass at 1:42, but Owen Sound would take over the remainder of the period with five unanswered goals. 

Jackson Webster converted a Bobby O'Grady pass with a screen shot at 5:07, followed by O'Grady himself scoring from the outside with a low laser off a Jackson Webster pass at 9:57.

Colton McKechnie then finished a Xander Derkatz feed with a shot through the five-hole at 10:41, followed by Derkatz himself with a low to low howitzer off a Jackson Webster pass at 11:33 to tie the game.

Jackson Webster gave Owen Sound their first lead of the game with a shot that just beat the shot clock to the shortside unassisted at 19:19.

After two periods, Owen Sound 7 Owen Sound 6.
Shots on goal favored the Rock 20-9.

Third Period:

Whatever was said in the Rock dressing room lit a fire under them.

Carson Moyer opened the third period scoring with back to back tallies.  The first was off a great individual effort finishing an Alex Simmons pass at 4:13, followed by a quick stick power-play marker also off a Simmons feed at 7:38.

Alex Simmons got his fifth of the game diving across the crease off a Josh Dawick pass at 8:58, followed by Isiah Moran-Weekes with back to back markers late in the game opening a four goal Rock lead with just 3:38 remaining. 

The NorthStars tried to get back in the game with Bobby O'Grady scoring off a Jackson Webster feed 26 seconds later, followed by Webster himself with a blast off a Mitch Gustavsen feed at 18:54.

Oakville sealed the deal with Jake Darlison scoring off a faceoff win from Nathan Kapp just 6 seconds later into the empty net to give the Rock the victory.

Final score, Oakville 12 Owen Sound 9.
Shots on goal favored the Rock 19-15, for a game total of 47-36 in favor of Oakville. 

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Simmons 
2. Jackson Webster 
3. Isiah Moran-Weekes 

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