Cruise Hold Off NorthStars Rally to Force Winner-Take-All Game Three

By Gary Groob 

The Owen Sound NorthStars faced the Collingwood Cruise in game two of the Ontario Series Lacrosse playoffs at the Eddie Bush Arena in Collingwood, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Dante Mancini in net for the Cruise facing Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for the NorthStars. 

The Collingwood Cruise bounced back on home floor Saturday evening, defeating the Owen Sound NorthStars 7-6 at Eddie Bush Arena to even their Ontario Series Lacrosse first-round playoff series at one game apiece. After building a 7-4 lead through two periods, the Cruise weathered a determined third-period comeback led by Cam Sanderson, who scored four goals, as Dante Mancini and the Collingwood defense shut the door late to preserve the victory.

Collingwood received balanced offensive production with Braydon Hickey scoring twice while Josh Sanchez added a pair of his own. Graham Bergsma and Austin Farlow also found the scoresheet during a pivotal second period that swung the momentum in the Cruise's favor. Owen Sound pushed relentlessly in the final frame, outshooting Collingwood overall 49-48, but Mancini delivered several key saves in the closing minutes to secure the win and send the series to a decisive Game Three.

To The Game:

The NorthStars got rolling early with Nate Laycock converting a Cam Sanderson feed at 2:06, followed by Cohen Jennings converting on a broken play unassisted at 3:44.

Josh Sanchez got the Cruise within one with a blast off a Jaxon Bisson pass at 14:56.

After one period, Owen Sound 2 Collingwood 1.
Shots on goal favored Collingwood 16-15.

Second Period:

Collingwood opened the second period scoring with Ashton Lankowski finishing a Chase Forsythe pass at 41 seconds to tie the game, followed by Braydon Hickey off a turnover scoring unassisted at 2:55.

Cam Sanderson tied the game with a low laser off a Cohen Jennings pass at 5:55, but an outside blast from Graham Bergsma regained the lead for the Cruise at 7:03.  Austin Farlow then increased Collingwood's lead with an unassisted tally at 10:02. 

Cam Sanderson got the NorthStars within one with a sidearm snipe off a Jordan Caskenette pass at 13:32, but late goals from Braydon Hickey and Josh Sanchez had the Cruise up by three heading to the intermission. 

After two periods, Collingwood 7 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the NorthStars 18-13.

Third Period 

Owen Sound got back into the game with Cam Sanderson's third and fourth of the afternoon.  The first came unassisted with a low to low bounced shot at 5:10, followed by a sidearm snipe off a Cohen Jennings pass at 6:18.

The NorthStars ramped up the pressure the rest of the period, but Dante Mancini and the Collingwood defense held strong.

Final score, Collingwood 7 Owen Sound 6.
Shots on goal favored the Cruise 17-16, for a game total of 49-48 in favor of the NorthStars. 

The Three Stars:

1. Braydon Hickey 
2. Cam Sanderson 
3. Josh Sanchez 

The series is tied 1-1 with the deciding game Sunday at the Bayshore Arena - 4 pm.