Gignac, Haigh Power Cruise to Victory Over Bengals

By Gary Groob

The Hamilton Bengals (1-2) traveled to face the Collingwood Cruise (1-3) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action at the Eddie Bush Arena in Collingwood, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Aden Walsh in net for the Bengals facing Dante Mancini in net for the Cruise. 

The Collingwood Cruise weathered a back-and-forth battle Saturday night, pulling away late for an 11-8 victory over the Hamilton Bengals. After a tightly contested opening period ended deadlocked at 2-2, the teams combined for 11 goals in a wild second frame. Hamilton grabbed an early advantage behind Andy Campbell and Eddie Renaud, but Collingwood responded with a four-goal surge led by Zack Gignac and Gareth Haigh. The Bengals refused to go away, rallying to tie the game twice before the Cruise carried a narrow 8-7 lead into the final period.

In the third, Zach Terry briefly pulled Hamilton even, but Gignac's fourth goal of the night restored the Collingwood lead and proved to be the game-winner. Graham Bergsma added a key power-play marker late in regulation before Ben Baker sealed the victory with an empty-net goal. Gignac and Haigh spearheaded the Cruise attack with four goals and three goals respectively, while Campbell recorded a hat trick for Hamilton. Dante Mancini earned the win between the pipes as Collingwood improved with a strong finish, outscoring the Bengals 3-1 over the final twenty minutes.


To The Game:

Collingwood got on the board first with Chase Forsythe converting a Gareth Haigh pass at 6:17, but an unassisted power-play goal from Andy Campbell at 9:00 tied the game. 

Zack Gignac again gave the Cruise the lead once again with a blast off a Gareth Haigh feed at 14:58, but another power-play marker from Tye Argent knotted the game at 17:57.

After one period, Hamilton 2 Collingwood 2.

Second Period:

The Bengals stormed out in the second with a pair of quick goals.  Andy Campbell got his second of the evening off a Dawson Brown pass at 0:31 seconds, followed by Eddie Renaud with an outside blast off a Brendan Campbell pass 0:37 seconds later.

Collingwood got back in the game when Aidan Saint wired a Scott Edwards feed at 5:27, followed by Gareth Haigh with a shot from in close off a Christophe McWatt pass at 6:53 to tie the game once again.

Zack Gignac gave Collingwood the lead converting a Graham Bergsma pass at 7:11, followed by Haigh with his second of the game off a Gignac feed at 10:37.

Hamilton bounced back with goals from Dawson Brown and Tye Argent to again be tied, only to have Haigh and Gignac give the Cruise the two goal cushion back with just 4:32 remaining in the second period. 

Andy Campbell replied for the Bengals with a low to low laser off a Tye Argent pass at 19:02 bringing the game within one at the break.

After two periods, Collingwood 8 Hamilton 7.

Third Period:

Zach Terry tied the game for the Bengals with a sidearm snipe off a Tye Argent pass at 1:56, but Zack Gignac's fourth of the game had Collingwood in the lead once again at 6:50.

Graham Bergsma gave the Cruise some insurance with a power-play marker off a Gareth Haigh pass at 17:00, followed by an empty net tally from Ben Baker at 19:25.

Final score, Collingwood 11 Hamilton 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Zack Gignac 
2. Gareth Haigh 
3. Andy Campbell