Marinier, Carrigan, and Hickey Lead Merchants To Dominant Game One Victory

Photos courtesy of Sam Hossack Media 

The Owen Sound North Stars (0-1) faced the Brooklin Merchants (1-0) in game one of the Ontario Series Lacrosse playoffs at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Gavin Clarke in net for the North Stars facing Deacan Knott in net for the Merchants. 

The Brooklin Merchants played this game as they played the entire season.  While they started fast, Owen Sound was able to get back in the game scoring twice.  However, the Merchants defense locked down after that, not allowing another North Stars goal for 27:37.

Led by Alex Marinier (4g,2a), Zac Carrigan (3g,6a), Jacob Hickey (3g,0a), Devon Pipher (2g,2a), and Will MacLeod (2g,2a), the Merchants dominated in all aspects of the game.

This game definitely had an edge, showing that it was going to be a physical series, with both teams taking numerous penalties.   Brooklin wins game one handily, 14-4.

To The Game:

The Merchants got on the scoresheet early with Zac Carrigan converting an Alex Marinier pass at 4:24, followed by Marinier himself with a low laser to the corner off a Darren Elliott pass at 6:12.

Jake McNabb got Owen Sound in the game with a pair of goals.  The first was a sidearm snipe to the glove side off a Jordan Caskenette pass at 12:01, followed by an outside blast off a Michael Blaymires feed at 14:05 to tie the game.

Zac Carrigan regained the Merchants lead with an unassisted tally at 16:17, followed by a bounced shot from Jacob Hickey off an Adam Perroni pass at 19:05.  Brooklin added a buzzer beater from Devon Pipher converting a Kellen Pulera pass with just 0:02 seconds remaining in the frame.

After one period, Brooklin 5 Owen Sound 2.

Second Period:

Alex Marinier increased the Brooklin lead to start the second period with an in close blast off a Zac Carrigan pass at 8:44, followed by Carrigan converting a Parker Pipher feed on the fly at 10:07.

Jacob Hickey continued the barrage in transition off a long lead pass from Deacan Knott at 14:29, followed by Alex Marinier with his third of the game off a Devon Pipher pass at 18:45.  Will MacLeod then added a late power-play goal off a Marinier feed at 19:33.

After two periods, Brooklin 10 Owen Sound 2.

Third Period:

Owen Sound finally got back on the board with Riley Thompson finishing a Dawson McKenzie pass from in close at 1:42, but Jacob Hickey answered immediately with a blast off a Scott Reed pass 0:19 seconds later.  Devon Pipher continued the onslaught with a power-play goal off a Will MacLeod pass at 6:31.

Riley Thompson gave Owen Sound their fourth of the evening, but goals from Will MacLeod and Alex Marinier put this game on ice. 

Final score, Brooklin 14 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 52-37.

The Three Stars:

1. Alex Marinier 
2. Jacob Hickey 
3. Zac Carrigan

Brooklin takes a 1-0 lead in the best of five playoff series.