Elijah-Brown's Late Goals Give The Rivermen The "W" Over The Merchants

The Six Nations Rivermen (8-3) visited the Brooklin Merchants (9-2) Saturday afternoon in Ontario Series Lacrosse action at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Tye Belanger in net for the Rivermen facing Lucas Coote in net for the Merchants. 

The initial gameplan from the Rivermen looked to push the tempo and play aggressive.   This plan almost immediately paid dividends with Six Nations jumping out to an early 4-1 lead.   Aggressive turned to undisciplined, and Brooklin took advantage to get back in the game with special teams.

By the third period, the Rivermen found themselves up by three goals with just over half a period to go. Brooklin pressed hard and with a three goal run themselves, set up a dramatic finish.  The Rivermen's Greg Elijah-Brown scored back to back goals 1:29 apart putting the game away.  Six Nations wins 13-11

To The Game:

The Rivermen opened the scoring with Greg Elijah-Brown finishing an Anahalihs Doxtator pass from in front of the net at 0:56 seconds, but on the power-play Brooklin answered when Parker Pipher finessed a shot in at 2:55.

Six Nations took the lead when Thunder Hill got his own rebound from a blocked shot and wired it shortside at 5:15, followed by Davin Bomberry with a goal from in close off a  Greg Elijah-Brown pass 0:21 seconds later.  Elijah-Brown continued the barrage with a blast to the corner off a Ross Hill feed at 7:53.

Brooklin got back on the board with a low to low laser from Kellen Pulera off a Cole Tucker feed at 10:14, followed by a penalty shot goal from Parker Pipher to the shortside corner at 10:56.

Although down two men, the Rivermen were able to score shorthanded.  Thunder Hill hit a shot that bounced off the post, then off Lucas Coote and in at 11:35.  Jordan Goddard then blasted a howitzer from the outside off a Brooker Muir feed shorthanded at 14:35.

Brooklin kept fighting with Eddie Renaud converting a Darren Elliott pass on the power-play at 15:10 to get back in the game.

After one period, Six Nations 6 Brooklin 4.

Second Period:

Deacan Knott took over in net for the Brooklin Merchants to start the second period. 

Nicholas Volkov got the Merchants rolling early converting a Kobe Handsor pass at 2:12, but was answered by Danton Miller with a quick stick off a Davin Bomberry pass 0:31 seconds later.

Darren Elliott found the back of the net with an in close blast off a Parker Pipher feed on the power-play at 7:08, but goals from Zach Herreweyers and Davin Bomberry kept the Rivermen in control.

Nicholas Volkov scored his second of the period with a low to low shot off a Parker Pipher pass at 15:20, once again bringing the Merchants within two goals.

After two periods, Six Nations 9 Brooklin 7.

Third Period:

Again the Merchants get off to a good start in the period with Parker Pipher firing an outside rocket off an Eddie Renaud pass at 5:13.

The Rivermen replied with Russ Hill finishing a Davin Bomberry pass at 7:50, followed by Bomberry himself scoring on the power-play off a Zach Herreweyers feed at 8:29 for a three goal lead.

Brooklin kept working and pressing, soon being rewarded.  Parker Pipher converted a Devon Pipher pass at 12:42, followed by Cole Tucker with a low to low blast off a Zach Miller pass at 14:36.  Eddie Renaud tied the game with an outside beauty off a Ryan McCrory feed at 16:54.

Greg Elijah-Brown then put the Rivermen on his shoulders, scoring late back to back markers 1:31 apart to give Six Nations the victory. 

Final score, Six Nations 13 Brooklin 11.
Shots on goal finished tied 41-41.

The Three Stars:

1. Greg Elijah-Brown 
2. Parker Pipher 
3. Davin Bomberry