Balanced Attack Has Rivermen One Win Away From OSL Final

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Rivermen traveled to face the Hamilton Bengals in game two of the Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinals Sunday afternoon at the Dave Andreychuk Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Cam Dunkerley in net for the Rivermen facing Aden Walsh in net for the Bengals. 

The Six Nations Rivermen moved within one win of the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals after defeating the Hamilton Bengals 14-9 in Game 2 Sunday afternoon at the Dave Andreychuk Arena. After falling behind 2-0 early, the Rivermen responded with four unanswered first-period goals and never relinquished the lead. Anahalihs Doxtator led the charge with two goals, while Jackson Webster added a pair of his own as Six Nations carried a 9-5 advantage into the third period.

Hamilton mounted a spirited push behind multi-goal efforts from Nolan Marshall, Zach Terry and Curtis Ward, trimming the deficit to three midway through the final frame. However, the Rivermen answered with a decisive four-goal surge, highlighted by goals from David Anderson, Rodd Squire and a shorthanded marker from Ty Logan, to put the game away. With the victory, Six Nations takes a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five semifinal series and will have the opportunity to complete the sweep on home floor.

To The Game:

The Bengals started quickly with Zach Terry scoring from in close off a Jaden Patterson pass at 3:06, followed by Brendan Campbell finishing a Nolan Marshall feed at 4:35.

The Rivermen cut the lead in half with Tyler Brown blasting a Jackson Webster pass at 8:23, followed by Mason Hill with a shot from in close off a Tyler Brown pass at 12:55.

Anahalihs Doxtator gave Six Nations their first lead of the day with a blast off a Jacob Crans pass in transition at 15:50, followed by Braedon Saris with an outside laser off a Kevin Owen-Hill pass at 16:32.

After one period, Six Nations 4 Hamilton 2.

Second Period:

Six Nations built on to their lead with Anahalihs Doxtator scoring in transition off a loose ball unassisted at 35 seconds, followed by a howitzer from Thunder Hill off an Alex Kew pass at 4:54.

Zach Terry got Hamilton back in the game with a power-play marker off a Brendan Campbell pass at 7:15, followed by Campbell himself with a low to low laser off a Nolan Marshall feed at 8:24.

Jackson Webster stopped the Bengals mini-run finishing a David Peterkin pass at 10:51, but Curtis Ward responded for Hamilton with an outside bounced shot off a Jaden Patterson pass at 12:18.

The Rivermen kept up the pressure with Braedon Saris converting a Brooker Muir feed in transition at 13:48, followed by Jackson Webster with his second of the game off a Marshall Powless pass at 14:42.

After two periods, Six Nations 9 Hamilton 5.

Third Period:

Ryan Andrews extended the Rivermen lead with an unassisted marker at 2:21.  

Nolan Marshall kept the Bengals alive with a low to low shot off a Zach Terry pass at 6:15, followed by Curtis Ward scoring his second of the game with a high to low shot from the side of the net off an Andy Campbell pass 35 seconds later.

Thunder Hill increased the Six Nations lead to four with a low to high laser off a Marshall Powless feed at 7:44, but again Nolan Marshall cut into the lead with a low bounced shot off an Andy Campbell pass at 10:29.

The Rivermen put it in another gear with David Anderson firing a high to high blast to the top corner off a Greg Elijah-Brown pass at 10:57, followed by Rodd Squire, on a turnover, going in all alone in transition unassisted at 12:27.  Ty Logan then added another unassisted tally while shorthanded at 14:27.

Ty Argent got one back in transition off a long lead pass from Aden Walsh at 19:26, but it wasn't enough. 

Final score, Six Nations 14 Hamilton 9.

The Three Stars:

1. Anahalihs Doxtator 
2. Nolan Marshall 
3. Jackson Webster 

Six Nations takes a 2-0 lead in the best of five series, with game three slated for the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena Friday, July 31st.