Riley Thompson's Four Goal Performance Leads NorthStars To Victory

By Gary Groob 

A historic night at the Wally Dever Arena in Belleville, Ontario, as the Belleville Kodiaks played their inaugural home game.  The Owen Sound NorthStars were the visitors facing the Kodiaks in Ontario Series Lacrosse action on this night.

The goaltending match-up had Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for Owen Sound facing Jackson Hainer in net for the Kodiaks. 

The Belleville Kodiaks gave the hometown crowd plenty to cheer about early, battling through nearly a full period of fast-paced, end-to-end action before Blake Maracle etched his name into franchise history with the first home-floor goal in Kodiaks history. Maracle buried a perfect Brayden McGregor setup on the power play at 16:18 to give Belleville a 1-0 lead after one period. Owen Sound answered quickly in the second, however, as Tyson Morrison sparked the offence with an unassisted effort before Tetsuya Yamada struck just 26 seconds later. Daiki Shimizu briefly tied the game at two, but the NorthStars seized control behind a dominant middle frame led by Riley Thompson, who scored three times in the period while Jordan Caskenette also added to the surge. Despite Nate Schultzkie cutting the deficit late in the frame, Owen Sound carried a 6-3 advantage into the third.

Belleville showed fight in the final period when Tim Zdimal converted a Sebastian Reynolds feed to bring the Kodiaks within two, but the NorthStars’ firepower proved too much to contain. Riley Thompson completed a four-goal performance before Yamada added his second of the night to restore control for Owen Sound. Koichi Nakamura answered late for Belleville with a goal from in close off another Reynolds assist, but Andrew Kelly capped the scoring in the final minute as Owen Sound came away with a 9-5 victory. 

To The Game :

After almost an entire period of end to end scoreless action, the Belleville Kodiaks made history with their first goal on home soil.  Blake Maracle converted a perfect feed from Brayden McGregor on the power-play at 16:18.

After one period, Belleville 1 Owen Sound 0.

Second Period:

Owen Sound finally got on the board with a great individual effort from Tyson Morrison scoring unassisted at 3:27, followed by Tetsuya Yamada with an outside blast off a Dawson McKenzie pass 0:26 seconds later. 

Daiki Shimizu tied the game finishing a Brayden McGregor pass at 5:28, but back to back goals from Riley Thompson changed the complexion off the game.

Thompson's first goal was on a screen off a Rob Kloepfer feed at 8:37, followed by an in close bounced shot off a Dawson McKenzie pass at 12:42.  Jordan Caskenette then added to the lead with a sidearm snipe also off a McKenzie feed at 16:19.

Nate Schultzkie brought Belleville closer with a blast off a Nolan Downey pass at 17:43, but Riley Thompson's third of the period had Owen Sound up by three at the break.

After two periods, Owen Sound 6 Belleville 3.

Third Period:

The Kodiaks got closer when Tim Zdimal converted a Sebastian Reynolds pass at 6:27.

 Riley Thompson's fourth of the game, followed by Tetsuya Yamada adding his second goal of the game had the NorthStars firmly in control with just 4:12 remaining. 

Koichi Nakamura scored from in close off a Sebastian Reynolds pass at 17:46, but Andrew Kelly sealed the deal off a Rob Kloepfer pass at 19:33.

Final score, Owen Sound 9 Belleville 5.

The Three Stars:

1. Riley Thompson
2.  Dawson McKenzie 
3. Sebastian Reynolds