A Come From Behind Victory Has Six Nations On Top Of The Standings

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time

The Hamilton Bengals (2-2) faced the Six Nations Rivermen (3-1) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action at the Six Nations Sports & Cultural Recreational Centre.

Both teams have had strong starts.  The Rivermen have been led by Wes Whitlow (7g,7a) and Layne Smith (10g,4a), while Hamilton have had Jack Fitzgerald (9g,4a) and Tye Argent (3g, 11a) leading their squad.  First place was on the line in this Friday evening game.

The goaltending match-up had Dusty Hill for the Rivermen facing Chase Cosgrove for the Bengals. 

A back and forth game most of the evening had the Bengals with a slight one goal lead with just five minutes left in the game.  The Rivermen put it in fifth gear scoring three times in just over a minute to leave with the 11-9 victory.

Jordan Goddard (4g,2a), Danton Miller (2g,1a) and Jordan Durston (0g,5a) led the Rivermen.  Jack Fitzgerald (2g,0a) and Colin Matthews (1g,2a) topped the Bengals scorers.

To The Game:

The Bengals got on the scoreboard to open the game when Neil McInroy converted n Andrew Vredenburg pass at 1:37, but were answered quickly by Jordan Goddard of the Rivermen finishing a Jordan Durston feed just 0:30 seconds later. 

After a long stretch of end to end action Hamilton put together a three goal run to end the period.  Dustin Brown blasted a Colin Matthews pass at 14:37, followed by Matthews himself beating Hill off a Luke Robinson pass at 15:44.  Nick Miller then increased the Bengals lead with a slick finish of a Mitch Bolduc pass at 17:06.

After one period, Hamilton 4 Six Nations 1.

Second Period:

Six Nations got on track scoring a pair of goals to start the period.  Jordan Goddard got his second of the game off a Danton Miller pass at 1:06, followed by Wes Whitlow beating Chase Cosgrove with a shot from in close off a Jordan Durston pass at 4:27.  The Bengals got on the board with Jack Fitzgerald scoring his first of the game at 5:26.  

The Rivermen answered with two more quick goals.  Layne Smith converted a Jordan Goddard pass at 10:50, followed by Danton Miller finishing a Wes Whitlow feed at 13:06 to tie the game 5-5.  

Hamilton took the lead once again when Jack Fitzgerald scored his second of the period finishing a Colin Matthews pass at 15:42.

After two periods, Hamilton 6 Six Nations 5.

Third Period:

Danton Miller tied the game for Six Nations off a Jordan Goddard pass at 1:48, followed by Goddard himself finishing a Jordan Durston feed at 5:15.

Jordan Gilles then evened the back and forth game for Hamilton 0:09 seconds later off the faceoff followed by Shane Halliwell converting an Yvon Bolduc pass at 8:15 to grab the lead once again.

As has been their style early in the year, the Rivermen turned it on later in the third period to take over the game.  Ross Hill got on the scoresheet blasting a Riley Miller pass at 14:50, followed by Jordan Goddard's fourth of the night off a Jordan Durston pass at 17:57 to again put the Rivermen out front.  Wes Whitlow and Riley Miller added insurance markers late in the period putting Six Nations up by three goals with just over a minute to go. 

The Bengals tried to mount a comeback with Nick Miller scoring with 0:33 seconds left in the game, but they ran out of time.

Final score, Six Nations 11 Hamilton 9.

The Three Stars:

1. Jordan Goddard 
2. Jordan Durston 
3. Jack Fitzgerald