Hamilton Scores Nine Straight to Pull Away from Collingwood

By Gary Groob 

The Collingwood Cruise (2-8) traveled to face the Hamilton Bengals (4-5) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Saturday evening at the Dave Andreychuk Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Oliver Vanyo in net for the Cruise facing Sam Haines in net for the Bengals. 

After a back-and-forth opening period, the Hamilton Bengals took complete control over the final two frames, scoring nine of the game's last ten goals to earn a convincing 12-6 victory over the Collingwood Cruise Saturday night at Dave Andreychuk Arena.

Collingwood carried a 5-3 lead after an entertaining first period, fueled by balanced scoring from Braydon Hickey, Brendan McLeod, Tanner Soudan, Chase Forsythe, and Dylan Gillespie. Hamilton answered in the second as Andy Campbell ignited the comeback with consecutive goals before Curtis Ward and Zach Terry helped the Bengals seize the lead. Hamilton never looked back, adding four more goals in the third period to put the game out of reach.   Hamilton's relentless offense and strong defensive play over the final 40 minutes secured the 12-6 win.

To The Game:

Hamilton got on the board first with Nile Cyr firing a shot from the outside on a broken play unassisted at 1:49, but Braydon Hickey tied the game converting a Josh Sanchez pass at 3:40 for the Cruise.

Zach Terry regained the lead for the Bengals with a shot from the top of the crease off a Jordan Goddard pass at 7:38, but Brendan McLeod again tied the game with a sidearm snipe off a Dylan Gillespie feed at 9:04.

Collingwood took their first lead of the night with an outside blast from Tanner Soudan off a Josh Sanchez pass at 10:16, but Zach Terry's second of the period off a Jordan Goddard pass had the game knotted again at 15:29 in this see-saw battle. 

The Cruise kept pressing late in the frame with Chase Forsythe finishing a Graham Bergsma pass at 16:02, followed by Dylan Gillespie converting another Bergsma feed from in close at 17:01 for the two goal cushion.

After one period, Collingwood 5 Hamilton 3.

Second Period:

The Bengals got rolling quickly in the second period with Andy Campbell scoring back to back markers.  The first was a quick stick off a Curtis Ward pass at 4:03, followed by a sidearm blast to the corner off a Jordan Goddard pass at 9:28 to again tie the game.

Curtis Ward gave Hamilton the lead with a crafty move off a Zach Terry pass at 10:18, followed by Terry himself finishing a Ward feed from In close at 15:28.  Andy Campbell added an unassisted marker off a turnover at 17:34 to put the Bengals firmly in control.

After two periods, Hamilton 8 Collingwood 5.

Third Period:

The Bengals picked up where they left off in the third with Nolan Marshall converting a Jaden Patterson pass at 15 seconds, followed by Curtis Ward with a blast off a Brendan Campbell pass 39 seconds later.

Nolan Marshall continued the Bengals onslaught with back to back tallies.  The first came off a Jaden Patterson feed from in close at 4:27, followed by a quick stick off a Curtis Ward pass at 8:00.

Brendan McLeod finally stopped the bleeding with a blast off a Chase Forsythe pass at 8:21, but the damage had been done. 

Final score, Hamilton 12 Collingwood 6.

The Three Stars:

1. Zach Terry 
2. Nolan Marshall 
3. Andy Campbell