Belleville Holds Off Late James Gang Charge In One-Goal Battle

By Gary Groob 

The Ennismore James Gang (2-5) faced the Belleville Kodiaks (2-5) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Sunday afternoon at the Wally Dever Arena in Belleville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Andrew Kidd in net for Ennismore facing Gavin Williamson in net for the Kodiaks. 

The Belleville Kodiaks erased an early deficit and survived a furious third-period comeback attempt from the Ennismore James Gang to earn an exciting 11-10 victory Sunday afternoon at the Wally Dever Arena. After trailing 3-2 following the opening period, Belleville found its stride in the middle frame, getting key contributions from Nolan Rutty, Cam Milligan, Blake Maracle, and Kieran McKay to outscore Ennismore 6-3 in the second period and take an 8-6 lead into the final twenty minutes. Rutty and Milligan were instrumental in the surge, combining for five goals through two periods as the Kodiaks capitalized on their offensive opportunities despite being outshot overall.

Ennismore refused to go away in the third period. Liam Vollans completed a hat trick while Daniel Clark delivered a dominant offensive performance, helping the James Gang erase a three-goal deficit and pull even at 10-10 with just over five minutes remaining. However, Rutty answered almost immediately with his third goal of the game, restoring the Belleville lead only 21 seconds later. From there, goaltender Gavin Williamson shut the door, making several key saves down the stretch as the Kodiaks held off the late charge.

To The Game:

Belleville jumped out in front when Jack Bucknell converted a Kieran McKay pass at 7:46, but Liam Vollans replied with a great individual effort unassisted at 9:56.

Nick DiLauro blasted a Daniel Clark feed at 12:15 to give the James Gang their first lead of the day, but Nolan Rutty fired a low to low laser from the outside at 14:48 to knot the game up once more.

Mason Tardiff added a late goal for Ennismore off a Robbie McGrayne feed from in close at 19:53 to give the James Gang the lead heading to the intermission. 

After one period, Ennismore 3 Belleville 2.
Shots on goal favored the James Gang 25-24.

Second Period:

Nathan Pouliot opened the second period scoring for Belleville while shorthanded converting a Kieran McKay pass at 6:16, but goals from Daniel Clark and Liam Vollans had the James Gang up by one at 9:40.

Nolan Rutty scored his second of the game off a sweet feed from Nate Schultzkie at 12:50, followed by Cam Milligan with a sidearm snipe off a Rutty pass at 13:45 to tie the game.

Ennismore took the lead with Daniel Clark bouncing a Nick DiLauro pass in at 14:14, but goals from Blake Maracle, Cam Milligan, and Kieran McKay in a span of 4:36 had the Kodiaks up by two at the break. 

After two periods, Belleville 8 Ennismore 6.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 36-15.

Third Period:

Cam Milligan opened the third period scoring with back to back markers to increase the Belleville lead.  The first was a low to low blast off a Tim Zdimal feed at 0:23 seconds, followed by a howitzer from the outside off a Blake Maracle pass at 3:51.

Frank Coyle stopped the Kodiaks run with a shorthanded tally unassisted on a broken play at 6:25, followed by Nick DiLauro with a power-play marker off a Daniel Clark pass at 11:35.

Ennismore continued to battle with Liam Vollans scoring his third of the game off a Daniel Clark feed at 13:32, followed by Clark himself with a highlight-reel goal off a Mason Tardiff pass at 14:24 to again tie the game.

Nolan Rutty scored his third of the game to put Belleville ahead with an outside blast off a Cam Milligan feed just 21 seconds later.

Ennismore tried to even the game, but the solid goaltending of Gavin Williamson kept them off the scoresheet.

Final score, Belleville 11 Ennismore 10.
Shots on goal favored the james Gang 23-19, for a game total of 79-63 in favor of the Kodiaks. 

The Three Stars:

1. Cam Milligan 
2. Daniel Clark 
3. Nolan Rutty