James Gang Ride Dominant Opening Forty Minutes to 9-5 Victory Over Kodiaks

Photo courtesy of the Ennismore James Gang Instagram page.

By Gary Groob 

The Belleville Kodiaks (3-8) faced the Ennismore James Gang (3-9)in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Saturday evening at the Memorial Centre in Peterborough, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Gavin Williamson in net for the Kodiaks facing Cole George in net for Ennismore.

Ennismore used a dominant first two periods to take control and never looked back in a 9-5 victory over the Belleville Kodiaks on Saturday night in Ontario Series Lacrosse action. After Cam Milligan opened the scoring for Belleville, the James Gang responded with four unanswered goals in the opening frame, including a pair from Adam Churchill, to grab a commanding 4-1 lead. They continued to dictate the pace in the second period as Sebastian Reynolds, Frank Coyle, and Nick DiLauro all found the back of the net, extending the advantage to 7-3 after 40 minutes despite Belleville getting goals from Milligan and Koichi Nakamura.

Belleville showed plenty of fight in the third, with Cam Milligan completing a hat trick before setting up Blake Maracle to trim the deficit to three and inject some life into the Kodiaks. But Ennismore answered at the perfect time, as Liam Vollans converted an Adam Churchill feed to halt the comeback and put the game away. Churchill finished with two goals and three assists in a five-point performance, while Reynolds added a pair of goals. Milligan led Belleville with a hat trick, but the James Gang's balanced offense and strong start proved to be the difference in the 9-5 victory.

To The Game:

Belleville opened the scoring with Cam Milligan blasting a Blake Maracle pass at 6:48, but Ennismore would soon take over the period.

Adam Churchill tied the game with a sidearm snipe off a Nate Allan pass at 12:58, followed by Daniel Clark with a low shot that found the corner off a Maxwell Taylor pass at 14:14.

Holden Lowe extended the James Gang lead going in all alone in transition off a long lead pass from Cole George at 16:55, followed by Adam Churchill's second of the period converting a Daniel Clark pass at 17:39.

After one period, Ennismore 4 Belleville 1.
Shots on goal favored the James Gang 19-9.

Second Period:

The James Gang continued to dominate with Sebastian Reynolds scoring off an Adam Churchill pass at 3:44, followed by Frank Coyle with a blast off a Nate Allan pass at 9:47.

Cam Milligan's second of the game stopped the Ennismore run at 14:35, but a highlight-reel goal from Nick DiLauro off a Churchill feed at 15:50 kept the James Gang in control. 

Koichi Nakamura added another tally off a Milligan feed for Belleville at 16:58 to keep them in the game heading to the third period.

After two periods, Ennismore 7 Belleville 3.
Shots on goal favored the James Gang 21-20.

Third Period:

Sebastian Reynolds pushed the James Gang lead to five goals, with a shot from in close off a turnover in the offensive end unassisted at 1:57.

Cam Milligan scored his third of the game with a sidearm snipe off a Jack Bucknell pass at 6:15, followed by Blake Maracle with a low to low laser off a Milligan pass at 8:58 giving the Belleville some energy.

However, Liam Vollans stopped the Kodiaks momentum, sealing the deal with a nice finish of an Adam Churchill pass from in close at 15:35.

Final score, Ennismore 9 Belleville 5.
Shots on goal favored the Kodiaks 14-12, for a game total of 52-43 in favor of the James Gang. 

The Three Stars:

1. Adam Churchill 
2. Cam Milligan 
3. Cole George