Dominant Second Period Sends Brooklin Past Owen Sound and Into the Finals

By Gary Groob 

The Brooklin Merchants traveled west to face the Owen Sound NorthStars in game four of the Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinals Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena in Owen Sound, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for the NorthStars facing Thomas Kiazyk in net for the Merchants. 

The Brooklin Merchants punched their ticket to the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals with a convincing 9-4 victory over the Owen Sound NorthStars in Game 4 of the OSL semifinals Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena. After a tightly contested opening period that saw Brooklin take a narrow 3-2 lead, the Merchants took complete control in the second. Lucas Littlejohn scored twice in the middle frame while Parker Pipher added another, helping Brooklin build a commanding 6-2 advantage heading into the third period.

Littlejohn continued his dominant performance with his fourth goal of the game early in the final period, while Zac Carrigan and Parker Pipher each finished with two goals in the victory. Thomas Kiazyk was solid between the pipes as Brooklin outshot Owen Sound 44-39. Riley Thompson scored twice for the NorthStars, but Owen Sound couldn't overcome Brooklin's balanced attack. With the win, the Merchants claim the best-of-five series 3-1 and advance to the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals, where they will meet the Six Nations Rivermen.

To The Game:

The NorthStars got rolling first with Riley Thompson converting a Cohen Jennings pass at 6:21, but Ryan Langille replied with a blast from the side of the net off a Lucas Littlejohn pass at 10:21.

Zac Carrigan gave the Merchants the lead on a delayed penalty, blasting an Eddy Ferrede feed at 15:18, but Brody Caskenette tied the game with a goal in transition off a Wyatt Barfoot pass at 16:35.

Lucas Littlejohn scored on the power-play with a blast off a Parker Pipher pass at 18:47.

After one period, Brooklin 3 Owen Sound 2.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 15-13.

Second Period:

The defenses took over in the first half of the second period with both teams locking down the opportunities. 

Brooklin finally found some momentum midway through the frame with Lucas Littlejohn finishing a Carter Page feed at 9:12, followed by Parker Pipher with a goal from the top of the crease off a Zach Miller pass at 15:26.  Littlejohn added a late tally with a blast off an Owen Wills pass at 18:03 for a commanding four-goal lead.

After two periods, Brooklin 6 Owen Sound 2.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 20-17.

Third Period:

Riley Thompson opened the third period scoring for the NorthStars off a Jake McNabb pass at 2:23, but Parker Pipher replied with a low laser from the outside off a Lucas Littlejohn pass at 3:43.

Littlejohn scored his fourth of the afternoon with a sidearm snipe off a Ryan Langille pass at 5:44, followed by Zac Carrigan with a great individual effort off a Max Macpherson feed at 16:39.

Dawson McKenzie scored late for Owen Sound shorthanded off a Jake McNabb pass at 18:58, but the hole was just too deep to dig out of.

Final score, Brooklin 9 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal were tied 9-9, for a game total of 44-39 in favor of the Merchants. 

The Three Stars:

1. Lucas Littlejohn 
2. Zac Carrigan 
3. Parker Pipher 

Brooklin wins the best of five series 3-1, and will now face the Six Nations Rivermen in the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals.