Merchants Take Care of Business Against the Cruise

By Mark Stehlin

The Brooklin Merchants started the weekend on a high after a dominating 16-1 win over the Ennismore James Gang at home on Friday night. Tonight’s game differed from Friday and can best be described as a tale of two or three games after the Brooklin Merchants dispatched the Collingwood Cruise by a final of 19-12.

Fans settled in and watched their hometown team storm out to a 5-0 lead before five minutes had elapsed in the contest. The Cruise were able to put two behind Merchants started Lukas Coote but the homeside had a comfortable 9-2 lead after 20 minutes. In that period, the Merchants were assessed a rare two-minute bench minor for failing to properly close the players’ door. Rookie Will MacLeod featured strongly for the Merchants in the game. He scored to make it 8-2 for his side after his behind the back shot missed the net, hit the boards, and landed back in his stick and he made sure to put that one in the net. With just 0:03 showing on the game clock MacLeod added his fourth of the night. Coote did face some offensive pressure that he was able to withstand successfully.

The second period was marked by a complete reversal thanks to an offensive onslaught by the Cruise. They won that frame by a score of 8-5 and left Merchants fans wondering what they had just witnessed, given the dominance shown by their team in the first. The Cruise went on a pair of two goal runs and added a three-goal outburst in the final 2:46 of that period sending the teams to break with Brooklin having a 14-10 lead after forty. Merchants defender Jacob Hickey picked off an errant pass from the Cruise goalie and ran it down the floor for a goal to make it 13-7 in the final few minutes. As well, team captain Devin Pipher scored a memorable goal after he spun off a Cruise defender, all before the visitors went on their own final spree to close the gap after two periods.

Within the first few minutes of the final frame, Tanner Theede for Brooklin was assessed a five-minute major for illegal cross-checking and a 10-minute misconduct. The Cruise took the opportunity to score twice on that power-play to close the gap even closer and had an extra jump in their step. With less than 10 minutes on the clock, however the Merchants were able to snuff out any chance of a comeback by their guests. Liam Osborne scored three times down the stretch and MacLeod added his seventh and eighth of the game for the 19-12 win. With those two points the Merchants have an 11-2 record and sit two points adrift of the Six Nations Rivermen for top spot.

The newest additions to the Merchants were prominent in tonight’s game as well. On Friday, Braedon Saris had five goals and Alex Marinier notched four in that win over Ennismore.

“I’m happy to be with this team, happy to be with the guys and excited to be making a run for the championship,” said new addition Braedon Saris.

“I thought the game overall was good tonight, we were a little slow at times but anytime you score 19 goals in a game you should win, so yes all good for the win,” Saris added.

“I’m looking forward to these last three games and then a deep run in the playoffs and the Presidents Cup, so lots of lacrosse this summer but I’m looking forward to it,” Saris said.

Scoring – Osborne (3,2) Renaud (0,4) Carrigan (1,6) MacLeod (8,1) Elliott (1,0) Marinier (1,2) D Pipher (2,4) Handsor (0,2) Saris (1,4) Hickey (1,2) Tucker (1,0) P Pipher (0,5)

Next up home Saturday July 12 at 6 pm to host Owen Sound, on the road Saturday July 19 at 2 pm in Collingwood and then wrap up the regular season at home to host Owen Sound on Sunday July 20 at 7 pm