Brooklin Sweeps The Bengals To Advance To The Finals

Photo courtesy of Sam Hossack Media

Written by Gary Groob - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Hamilton Bengals traveled east to face the Brooklin Merchants in a do or die game three of the Ontario Series Lacrosse playoffs at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Whitby, Ontario.

Both games one and two were nail-biters that could have gone either way.  For the Bengals to stay alive they will need big games from the entire squad against a very deep Merchants squad. 

The goaltending match-up had Dylan Sprentz in net for Hamilton facing Deacan Knott in net for the Merchants. 

Brooklin sent a message in the first period scoring six unanswered goals off five different scorers.  The Merchants defense was just as effective, not allowing the Bengals many opportunities.

The second period saw Brooklin get up 11-0 before Hamilton answered with two of their own.  Eddie Renaud continued his hot night, while Zac Carrigan and Christian Watts weren't far behind.

The Merchants spent the majority of the period playing keep-away from the Bengals.   Hamilton added a couple of late goals, but by then the game was already done.  Brooklin wins 14-5 to sweep the series 3-0.  

To The Game:

Brooklin got off to a good start blanking the Bengals in the first period.  Tyler Goodchild opened the scoring with a blast off a Zac Carrigan pass at 8:07, followed by Alexis Simard finishing a Devon Pipher feed at 10:29.  

Eddie Renaud added a power-play marker off a Devon Pipher pass at 12:58, followed by Darren Elliott wiring a Tyler Goodchild pass from in front at 16:03.  

The onslaught continued with Eddie Renaud adding his second of the period off a Goodchild feed at 18:01, followed by Christian Watts with a laser off a Zac Carrigan pass at 19:47.

After one period, Brooklin 6 Hamilton 0.

Second Period:

Sam Haines replaced Dylan Sprentz in the Bengals net to start the period. 

The Merchants picked up where they left off in the first.  Eddie Renaud got his third of the game on the power-play blasting a Christian Watts feed at 7:47, followed by Adam Perroni scoring in transition off an Alexis Simard pass at 8:22.

Zac Carrigan power-play goal beat Haines to the far side off an Eddie Renaud pass at 10:36, followed by Trent Boyd converting a Devon Pipher pass low to low at 11:55.  Carrigan then scored his second of the period off a Christian Watts pass at 15:17.

Hamilton finally got on the board with Andrew Vradenburg scoring unassisted in transition off a turnover at 15:42, followed by Dawson Brown scoring while Hamilton was on a two man advantage off a Tye Argent pass at 17:53.

After two periods, Brooklin 11 Hamilton 2.

Third Period:

Greg Love opened the scoring for the Bengals firing an outside shot high to high off a Trevor McDonald pass at 4:53, but Zac Carrigan's third of the game off a Christian Watts pass stopped Hamilton's momentum at 5:57.  Carrigan then added his fourth of the game with a sidearm snipe to the corner off a Darren Elliott feed at 16:37.

The Bengals scored a couple of late goals with Neil McInroy and Chris Dong, but Christian Watts answered with a  blast off a Kellen Pulera pass at 18:50.

Final score, Brooklin 14 Hamilton 5.

The Three Stars:

1. Zac Carrigan 
2. Eddie Renaud 
3. Christian Watts 

Brooklin sweeps the best of five series 3-0, and is now headed to the finals to face the Six Nations Rivermen.