Rivermen Double Up Merchants to Take Game One of OSL Final

By Gary Groob 

The Six Nations Rivermen traveled east to face the Brooklin Merchants for game one of the best of five Ontario Series Lacrosse final at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre in Whitby, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Thomas Kiazyk in net for Brooklin facing Cam Dunkerley in net for the Rivermen. 

The Six Nations Rivermen opened the Ontario Series Lacrosse Final with a strong road performance, defeating the Brooklin Merchants 8-4 Friday night at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre. As expected, the two teams came out at a furious pace, combining for 34 shots in the opening period. David Anderson and Marshall Powless gave Six Nations an early 2-0 advantage before Robbie Baxter and Carter Page answered for Brooklin to tie the game. Greg Elijah-Brown and Tyler Brown restored the Rivermen’s two-goal cushion before the end of the period, sending Six Nations to the break with a 4-2 lead.

The Rivermen tightened things up defensively from there, allowing Brooklin just two goals over the final 40 minutes while steadily adding to their advantage. Thunder Hill struck on the power play and Jackson Webster added a late second-period marker before Anderson opened the third with his second goal of the night. Jack Oldman answered for the Merchants, but David Peterkin provided the insurance as Six Nations closed out an 8-4 victory. Anderson led the Rivermen attack with two goals and two assists, while Cam Dunkerley and the Six Nations defense held Brooklin to four goals despite the Merchants generating 38 shots. With the victory, the Rivermen take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five OSL Final.

To The Game:

As expected, the back-and-forth track meet started from the opening faceoff.  The Rivermen struck first with David Anderson converting a Tyler Brown pass at 6:46, followed by Marshall Powless with a low-to-low laser off a Mitch VanEvery feed at 7:41.

The Merchants came back with Robbie Baxter scoring from in close off an Elijah Edwards pass at 9:41, followed by Carter Page blasting a Zac Carrigan feed at 11:45 to tie the game.

Greg Elijah-Brown gave the Rivermen the lead once again with a sidearm snipe off a David Anderson pass at 16:40, followed by Tyler Brown with a tally off an Elijah-Brown feed at 17:41.

After one period, Six Nations 4, Brooklin 2.
Shots on goal were tied 17-17.

Second Period:

Thunder Hill opened the second period scoring for the Rivermen on the power-play with a low-to-high blast off a Marshall Powless pass at 11:06, but Lucas Littlejohn responded with a laser from the outside off an Eddy Ferrede pass at 18:00.

Jackson Webster added a late marker for Six Nations converting a David Peterkin pass at 18:26.

After two periods, Six Nations 6, Brooklin 3.
Shots on goal favored the Merchants 12-10.

Third Period:

Six Nations opened the third period scoring with David Anderson firing a high-to-high shot to the top corner off a Jackson Webster pass at 1:05, but Jack Oldman replied with a shot from the top of the crease off an Elijah Edwards pass at 7:12.

David Peterkin gave the Rivermen some insurance with a blast off a David Anderson pass.

Final score, Six Nations 8, Brooklin 4.
Shots on goal favored the Rivermen 14-9, for a game total of 41-38 in favor of the Rivermen.

The Three Stars:

1. David Anderson 
2. Jackson Webster 
3. Cam Dunkerley 

The Rivermen lead the best-of-five final 1-0, with game two scheduled for Sunday, August 9th, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.  Game time is 7 p.m.