Merchants Continue Perfect Run With Convincing Win Over Owen Sound

By Gary Groob 

The Owen Sound NorthStars (4-4) traveled east to face the Brooklin Merchants (7-0) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Sunday afternoon at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Gavin Clarke in net for Owen Sound facing Thomas Kiazyk in net for the Merchants. 

The Brooklin Merchants continued their perfect season on Sunday afternoon, using a dominant second period and relentless offensive pressure to defeat the Owen Sound NorthStars 9-4 at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. After a tightly contested opening frame that ended 1-1, Brooklin seized control in the middle period behind a four-goal outburst. Ryan Langille led the charge, recording a natural hat trick through the second period while Adam Perroni added a transition marker, helping the Merchants build a 5-2 advantage heading into the final twenty minutes.

Brooklin never looked back in the third, adding four more goals while continuing to dictate play at both ends of the floor. Cole Tucker struck shorthanded, Robbie Baxter scored twice, and Max Macpherson added a late power-play tally to put the game out of reach. Owen Sound received goals from Jordan Caskenette and Riley Thompson in the final frame, but the NorthStars could not overcome Brooklin's depth and territorial advantage. The Merchants outshot Owen Sound 61-31 overall and remained undefeated at 7-0, while the NorthStars dropped to 4-4 on the season.

To The Game:

The Merchants got rolling early with Ryan Langille converting an Owen Tapper pass at 5:25, but Cam Sanderson replied with a blast off a Brody Caskenette pass at 8:08 to tie the game.

After one period, Brooklin 1 Owen Sound 1.
Shots on goal favored Brooklin 20-9.

Second Period:

Brooklin took charge in the second period.  Adam Perroni gave the Merchants the lead in transition converting an Eddie Ferrede pass at 1:07, followed by a power-play marker from Ryan Langille quick sticking a Robbie Baxter feed at 2:57.

Riley Thompson brought the NorthStars within one with a blast off a Tyson Morrison pass at 4:10, but Ryan Langille's third of the game restored Brooklin’s two goal cushion at 10:11.

Langille then added another power-play marker late in the period off a Zach Miller pass at 18:12 to open a three goal lead heading to the third period. 

After two periods, Brooklin 5 Owen Sound 2.
Shots on goal favored Brooklin 19-11.

Third Period:

Cole Tucker increased the Brooklin lead shorthanded in transition converting a Jack Oldman pass at 6:51, followed by Robbie Baxter with a blast off a Zach Miller pass at 11:27.

Owen Sound stopped the Brooklin run on the power-play with Jordan Caskenette finishing a Riley Thompson pass at 13:30, followed by Thompson himself converting a Dawson McKenzie pass at 14:59.

Robbie Baxter answered just 12 seconds later converting a Jack Oldman pass off the faceoff, followed by Max Macpherson finishing a Ryan Langille pass on the power-play at 17:38.

Final score, Brooklin 9 Owen Sound 4.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 22-11, for a game total of 61-31 in favor of Brooklin. 

The Three Stars:

1. Ryan Langille
2. Robbie Baxter 
3. Gavin Clarke