Littlejohn and Carrigan Lead Merchants To Decisive Game Three Victory

By Gary Groob 

The Owen Sound NorthStars traveled east to face the Brooklin Merchants for game three of their Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinals Saturday evening at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario. 

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

The Brooklin Merchants rallied from a 3-1 second-period deficit to score 11 of the next 12 goals, defeating the Owen Sound NorthStars 12-4 and taking a 2-1 lead in their best-of-five Ontario Series Lacrosse semifinal. Lucas Littlejohn put on a spectacular offensive display with five goals and an assist, while Zac Carrigan added a hat trick and an assist as the Merchants turned a tight contest into a runaway victory.

Thomas Kiazyk was stellar between the pipes, stopping 37 shots to earn third-star honours, while Brooklin's transition game and relentless pressure overwhelmed the NorthStars over the final two periods. Riley Thompson led Owen Sound with two goals and two assists, but the Merchants now carry the momentum—and a 2-1 series advantage—into Game 4.

To The Game:

The NorthStars got on the board first with Riley Thompson converting a Jordan Caskenette pass at 6:58, but a blast from Lucas Littlejohn tied the game off a Ryan Langille feed at 13:32.

Aiden Doig regained the lead for Owen Sound in transition with a low shot off a Riley Thompson pass at 16:43.

After one period, Owen Sound 2 Brooklin 1.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 16-13.

Second Period:

Nate Laycock increased the NorthStars lead to start the period with a blast off a Riley Thompson pass at 1:50, but back to back markers from Lucas Littlejohn changed the complexion of the game.

Littlejohn's second of the game was in transition off a Quinn Hyland feed at 2:44, followed by a great individual effort off a Carson Christie pass at 5:40 to knot the game at three.

Brooklin took their first lead of the night with Zac Carrigan firing a rope to the corner off a Will Serviss feed at 5:56, followed by Carrigan again on the power-play with a low to low bouncer off a Lucas Littlejohn pass at 8:12.

Riley Thompson brought the NorthStars within one again with a blast off a Jake McNabb pass at 9:33 on the power-play, but Lucas Littlejohn's fourth of the night restored the Merchants two goal cushion with a sidearm snipe off an Owen Tapper pass at 14:20.

After two periods, Brooklin 6 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 18-16.

Third Period:

Brooklin kept up the pressure in the third period with Zac Carrigan scoring his third of the night off an Owen Wills pass at 3:33, followed by Ryan Langille finishing a Jack Oldman pass at 4:45.

Brooklin put an exclamation mark on the game with Lucas Littlejohn scoring his fifth of the evening on the power-play converting a Zac Carrigan feed at 14:50, followed by Carson Christie with a low laser off an Owen Tapper pass at 15:23.  

Will Serviss then added a goal in transition off a Zach Miller pass at 17:25, followed by Max Macpherson scoring unassisted also in transition at 19:25.

Final score, Brooklin 12 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the NorthStars 12-7, for a game total of 41-41.

The Three Stars:

1. Lucas Littlejohn 
2. Zac Carrigan 
3. Thomas Kiazyk 

Brooklin leads the best of five series 2-1 with game four Sunday afternoon at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Arena in Owen Sound, Ontario.  Game Time is 4 pm.