Short-Handed Chiefs Overpower Rock 12-6 Behind MacKay Hat-Trick

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Chiefs (16-1) traveled to face the Oakville Rock (12-5) in Major Series Lacrosse action Monday night at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre in Oakville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Warren Hill in net for the Chiefs facing Landon Kells in net for the Rock.

Despite dressing just 15 runners and missing a host of star players—including Dhane Smith, Josh Byrne, Chris Cloutier, David Anderson, Brad Kri, Dawson Theede, and Tyson Bell—the Six Nations Chiefs continued to prove why they sit atop the Major Series Lacrosse standings. After battling to a 3-3 tie through the opening period, the Chiefs gradually took control behind timely scoring, relentless transition play, and another steady performance from goaltender Warren Hill. Six Nations outscored Oakville 9-3 over the final two periods to earn an impressive 12-6 road victory at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.

Ian MacKay led the offensive charge with a hat-trick and four assists, while David Peterkin recorded two goals and four assists in one of his strongest performances of the season. Matt Hossack contributed a goal and two helpers, and Warren Hill turned aside 37 of 43 shots to anchor the victory. Six Nations dominated possession throughout the night, outshooting Oakville 62-43, as Ryan Smith, Andrew Kew, Lyle Thompson, Graeme Hossack, Matt Marinier, and Tim Edwards also found the scoresheet to help the Chiefs improve to 16-1 on the season.

To The Game:

The Rock got on the board first with Ryan Barker scoring his first MSL goal in transition unassisted at 5:05, but Graeme Hossack replied going in all alone off a long lead pass from Latrell Harris to tie the game at 8:28.

On a delayed penalty Oakville regained the lead when Alex Simmons fired an absolute howitzer from the outside off a Josh Dawick pass at 12:30, followed by Chris Weier grabbing a loose ball going coast to coast unassisted at 17:59.

Matt Marinier brought the Chiefs within one with a shot from the top of the crease off a Tyler Biles feed at 18:29, followed by Tim Edwards winning the ensuing faceoff and taking it to the house 6 seconds later. 

After one period, Oakville 3 Six Nations 3.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 23-16.

Second Period:

The Chiefs came out with more jump in the second period with Lyle Thompson using a few fakes then scoring over Kells shoulder off a David Peterkin pass at 7:31, followed by Peterkin himself with a sidearm snipe off a rebound from an Ian MacKay shot at 8:36.

Oakville got back on track with Sam LeClair scoring coming from behind the net on a great individual effort unassisted at 9:11, but David Peterkin responded with a great individual effort himself crashing towards the net off a Matt Hossack pass at 10:22.

Josh Dawick again brought the Rock within one with a low to low shot from the top of the crease off an Alex Simmons pass at 11:35, but Ian MacKay answered back with a behind the back shot from the top of the crease off a Kason Tarbell pass at 12:03.

Matt Hossack then dove from behind the net while shorthanded off a Matt Marinier pass at 15:25.

After two periods, Six Nations 8 Oakville 5.
Shots on goal favored the Chiefs 23-17.

Third Period:

Six Nations got on the board quickly with a twister from Ryan Smith from in close off a Graeme Hossack pass at 35 seconds, followed by a high to high blast to the top corner from Ian MacKay off an Andrew Kew pass at 4:13.  Ian MacKay then got his third of the night on the power-play with a twister off a Tyler Biles pass at 9:02.

The Rock got back on the board when Eric McDonald fired a low shot that went through the five-hole of Warren Hill off a Tye Steenhuis pass in transition at 11:37, but Andrew Kew responded with a sidearm snipe from the outside off a David Peterkin pass at 12:38.

Final score, Six Nations 12 Oakville 6.
Shots on goal favored Six Nations 16-11, for a game total of 62-43 in favor of the Chiefs. 
 
The Three Stars:

1. Ian MacKay 
2. David Peterkin 
3. Warren Hill 
 
You can watch every minute of MSL action on FloLive - https://flosports.link/MSL