Carrigan’s Six-Goal Performance Falls Short as Rivermen Take Game 3

By Gary Groob 

The Brooklin Merchants traveled west to face the Six Nations Rivermen in game three of the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals Friday evening at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Thomas Kiazyk in net for Brooklin facing Cam Dunkerley in net for the Rivermen. 

The Six Nations Rivermen held off a determined third-period comeback by the Brooklin Merchants to earn an 11–10 victory in Game 3 of the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals. After taking a 2–1 lead through the opening period, Six Nations used a four-goal run in the second to carry a 7–5 advantage into the final frame, with Braedon Saris and Jonathan Gagliardi scoring twice each.

Zac Carrigan delivered a dominant performance for Brooklin, finishing with six goals and one assist as the Merchants battled back to within one in the final minute. Despite a late transition goal from Jack Oldman, Brooklin ran out of time, allowing Six Nations to take a 2–1 lead in the best-of-five series heading into Game 4 on Sunday evening in Whitby.

To The Game:

The Rivermen got on the board with Chaz Hill converting a Tyler Brown pass in transition at 6:49, followed by Kevin Owen-Hill with a low laser off a Tyson Bomberry feed at 8:08.

Brooklin cut the lead in half with Zac Carrigan scoring from in close off a Lucas Littlejohn pass in transition at 12:30.

After one period, Six Nations 2, Brooklin 1.

Second Period:

Six Nations opened the second period scoring with Mitch VanEvery hitting a low bounced shot that beat Thomas Kiazyk stick-side off a Marshall Powless feed at 1:05, but Landen Sinfield replied with a howitzer from the outside off a Lucas Littlejohn pass at 2:53 to keep the game close. 

Zac Carrigan's second of the night tied the game off a Zach Miller pass at 5:29, followed by Carrigan again with an outside blast off a Landen Sinfield pass at 7:43 to give the Merchants the lead.

Six Nations stormed back with four unanswered markers themselves.   Jonathan Gagliardi converted a Ryan Andrews pass 8 seconds later, followed by Tyler Brown with a sidearm snipe off a Chaz Hill pass at 13:08.

Braedon Saris continued the Rivermen's momentum with a blast off a Thunder Hill feed at 14:40, followed by Mitch VanEvery with a quick stick off a Tyler Brown pass at 17:22.

Brooklin kept fighting with Zac Carrigan scoring his fourth of the night with a low laser off a Carter Page feed at 17:32.

After two periods, Six Nations 7, Brooklin 5.

Third Period:

Zac Carrigan continued his big night with his fifth of the game off a Landen Sinfield pass at 26 seconds, but Alex Kew in transition gave the Rivermen a little breathing room at 1:12. 

Jonathan Gagliardi increased the Six Nations' lead to three with a blast off a David Peterkin pass 9 seconds later, but once again Zac Carrigan replied with a low bounced shot from in close off a Landen Sinfield pass at 3:25.

Lucas Littlejohn brought the Merchants within one with an outside shot off a Ryan Langille pass at 3:50, but Braedon Saris replied with a sidearm laser off a Thunder Hill feed at 7:35.

David Peterkin continued to give the Rivermen momentum with a sidearm snipe off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 13:37, but Parker Pipher kept the Merchants battling with a great individual effort off a Carter Page pass at 15:15.

Jack Oldman brought Brooklin within one in transition with a shot from in close off a Robbie Baxter pass at 19:05, but the comeback fell just short as time ran out.

Final score, Six Nations 11, Brooklin 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Zac Carrigan 
2. Braedon Saris 
3. Jonathan Gagliardi 

Six Nations takes a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series with game four scheduled for Sunday evening at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario.  Game time is 6 p.m.