Red Hot Merchants Continue Their Winning Ways

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Owen Sound North Stars (2-1) traveled east to face the Brooklin Merchants (4-1) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Friday night at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena. 

Both teams have had strong starts to the season, and this would be a good early indicator of bith team's status. Owen Sound has been led by Evan Brake (3g,10a), Jordan Caskenette (5g,6a), Jake McNabb (5g,4a), Gordie Power (4g,4a) and Mitch Gustavsen (4g,4a).  Brooklin has had Eddie Renaud (12g,16a), Parker Pipher (10g,12a), Devin Pipher (9g,11a), Christian Watts (8g,12a) and Kellen Pulera (9g,10a) leading the charge for them.

The goaltending match-up had Kaleb Martin in net for Owen Sound facing Ryan Schuetzkowski in net for the Merchants. 

A see-saw affair had the teams going back and forth for a majority of the first two periods.  Brooklin built a 6-3 lead after one period.  The North Stars pushed to start the second, coming within one goal three seperate times in the period.

The Merchants blew the game wide open getting on a six goal run with less than five minutes left in the second period.  The goals were scored in a 1:44 span, turning an 8-7 tight game into a 14-7 blow out heading to the third.  Brooklin and Owen Sound went stride for stride in the third, with the Merchants coming away with the 17-10 victory. 

To The Game:

Brooklin got off to a fast start with Kellen Pulera finishing a Darren Elliott pass at 1:09, followed by John Wheller in transition off a long lead pass from Ryan Schuetzkowski at 2:14.

Jake McNabb got Owen Sound on the board converting a nice feed from Evan Brake at 3:03, but Christian Watts answered with a howitzer off a Devon Pipher feed at 4:57.

The Merchants increased their lead when Devin Pipher tallied off an Eddie Renaud pass on the power-play at 7:58, but Noah Millsap got one back for the North Stars converting a Wyatt Barfoot pass at 8:21.

Christian Watts scored his second of the game shorthanded off a Tyler Goodchild pass at 14:47, but Jake McNabb answered on the power-play off a Jordan Caskenette feed 0:25 seconds later.  Devin Pipher added a power-play goal, converting a Kellen Pulera pass at 17:57.

After one period, Brooklin 6 Owen Sound 3.

Second Period:

Owen Sound started the period on fire scoring two quick goal bringing the game within one at 6-5.  Mike MacLeod and Jake McNabb both converted Evan Brake feeds on the power-play for the scores. 

Parker Pipher on the power-play and Carter Moran traded goals, followed by Eddie Renaud and Mitch Gustavsen trading goals and the score was now 8-7 for the Merchants with just under 5:00 minutes to play in the period.

Then the roof fell in for Owen Sound.  Six unanswered goals in 1:44 blew the game wide open.  

Kellen Pulera scored on the power-play off a Parker Pipher feed at 16:33, followed by Darren Elliott 0:31 seconds later.  Pulera's third of the game came only 0:21 seconds later followed by Eddie Renaud scoring 0:27 seconds after that.  Parker Pipher and Darren Elliott added two more goals in the spand of 0:40 to increase the lead to seven.

After two periods, Brooklin 14 Owen Sound 7.

Third Period:

A much more subdued period had the teams exchanging goal for goal the entire period.

Devin Pipher opened the scoring at 3:39 on the power-play, but Carter Moran's second of the game also on the power-play stopped the seven goal Brooklin run at 7:17.

Christian Watts scored off a Parker Pipher pass at 7:59, but the North Stars countered with Jordan Caskenette finishing a Gordie Power feed 0:10 seconds later.

Parker Pipher added another power-play marker off a Darren Elliott pass at 10:46, but again Owen Sound countered with Wyatt Barfoot scoring shorthanded unassisted at 11:23.

The end to end action in the second half of the third period was highlighted by both goalies playing exceptionally well, not allowing another goal.

Final score, Brooklin 17 Owen Sound 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Christian Watts 
2. Devin Pipher 
3. Jake McNabb