Bengals Get Inagural Win With An Exclamation Point

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Ennismore James Gang (0-2) visited the Hamilton Bengals (1-0) in Sunday Ontario Series Lacrosse action.  This was the inaugural game for the Hamilton franchise since moving from Oakville. 

The goaltending match-up had Brandon Wilson start for the James Gang facing Chase Cosgrove in net for the Bengals. 

The Bengals scored early and often, showing off all facets of their game.  Jack Fitzgerald (6g,1a) led the way with six goals, while Tye Argent (2g,7a), Nick D'amico (2g,0a), Cooper Day-Allison (2g,1a), and Yvon Bolduc (2g,8a) had a pair each in the 20-4 victory.

Aaron Bradshaw (2g,0a) had a pair of goals to lead the James Gang, with Holden Lowes (1g,0a), and Kent Radbourne (1g,2a) also adding singles.

To The Game:

The Bengals came out strong, with Dawson  Brown scoring a shorthanded goal off a Neil McInroy pass at 4:43, followed by Jack Fitzgerald converting a Mitch Bolduc feed at 11:39.

Jordan Gilles added a power-play goal, finishing off an Yvon Bolduc pass at 12:32, followed by Nick D'amico blasting a Cooper Day-Allison pass at 14:35.

After one period, Hamilton 4 Ennismore 0.

Second Period:

Jack Fitzgerald opened the second period scoring with his second of the game on the power-play.  Converting a Colin Matthews pass from in close at 2:46, the Bengals opened up a five goal lead. 

Ennismore finally got on the board with a laser from Holden Lowes, finishing a Jack Burke pass at 3:27, but were answered quickly by Jack Fitzgerald with his third of the game at 5:11.

Kent Radbourne was rewarded with a goal when he was able to beat Chase Cosgrove off a Tyler Grandel feed at 8:45, but Hamilton put in another gear at this point scoring the next eight goals.

Yvon Bolduc scored off a Curtis Ward feed at 9:34, followed by Cooper Day-Allison getting on the scoreboard 0:30 seconds later.  Colin Matthews continued the onslaught finishing off a Tye Argent pass 11:52, followed by Yvon Bolduc adding another off Mitch Bolduc's pass at 12:37.

Tye Argent converted an Yvon Bolduc pass at 13:10, followed by Nick D'amico's second of the game also off a Bolduc feed at 16:35.  Neil McInroy then added an unassisted goal at 17:43, followed by Cooper Day-Allison's second of the game on the power-play at 19:15.

Ennismore finally stopped the run on the power-play when Aaron Bradshaw converted a Kent Radbourne pass with just 0:07 seconds left in the period. 

After two periods, Hamilton 14 Ennismore 3.

Third Period:

The James Gang opened the scoring again on the power-play when Aaron Bradshaw scored his second of the game off a Kent Radbourne pass at 1:43, but the Bengals roared back with six goals to end the game.

Jack Fitzgerald answered with two more tallies off Tye Argent passes, followed by Mitch Bolduc converting a Curtis Ward pass at 10:29.  Tye Argent then scored his second of the game at 14:33, followed by Jack Fitzgerald's sixth of the day.  Tetsuya Yamada added one more for Hamilton on the power-play with just 0:22 seconds remaining in the game.

Final score, Hamilton 20 Ennismore 4.

The Three Stars:

1. Jack Fitzgerald 
2. Tye Argent 
3. Yvon Bolduc