Rivermen Keep Rolling With Tight Victory Against Upstart North Stars

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Six Nations Rivermen (6-1) traveled to Owen Sound to face the Owen Sound North Stars (2-3) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Saturday evening at the Durham Community Centre in Owen Sound. 

The Rivermen have had a good start to the year with Jordan Goddard (8g,17a), Wes Whitlow (11g,12a), Danton Miller (10g,11a) Ross Hill (5g,15a), Jordan Durston (7g,13a) and Layne Smith (13g,6a) all having big years.

Owen Sound started strong, but recently have met a few bumps in the road.  Jake McNabb (8g,11a), Jordan Caskenette (6g,10a), Evan Brake (2g,10a), and Gordie Power (6g,5a) have led the Stars to this point of the season. 

The goalie match-up had Craig Wende in net for Owen Sound facing Dusty Hill in net for Six Nations.

Owen Sound battled hard all day, pushing the Rivermen to their limit until the final horn.  Jordan Caskenette (3g,0a) and Wyatt Barfoot (2g,0a) led the North Stars offense.  

Six Nations showed they could play any style of game, whether it was run and gun, or a defensive battle.  Wes Whitlow (2g,3a) and Danton Miller (2g,2a) led the charge for the Rivermen.  Dusty Hill had another superb game in goal en route to the 10-8 Six Nations victory. 

To The Game:

The Rivermen opened the scoring with Greg Elijah-Brown picking the corner off a Wes Whitlow pass at 4:56, but the North Stars came back with Jordan Caskenette finishing Brody Caskenette's feed at 5:59.

Kaden Brennan regained the Six Nations lead from in front off a Brooker Muir pass at 6:29, but again Owen Sound came back with Kyle Childerhose scoring off an Andy Campbell pass 0:37 seconds later. 

Wes Whitlow and Zane Delpe staked the Rivermen to a two goal lead but Jordan Caskenette's second of the period on the power-play cut the lead in half.

Jordan Durston got on the scoresheet with a blast off a Wes Whitlow feed at 17:59 on the power-play, but Jordan Caskenette's third of the game once again knocked it down to a one goal game.

After one period, Six Nations 5 Owen Sound 4.

Second Period:

Danton Miller got the Rivermen rolling in the second off a Jordan Durston pass on the power-play at 7:14, but Tetsuya Yamada answered converting a Brody Caskenette pass with a low to low shot at 10:42.  Tyler Davis added to the Rivermen lead off a Greg Elijah-Brown pass with just 0:02 seconds left in the period to give Six Nations a two goal lead heading to the break.

After two periods, Six Nations 7 Owen Sound 5.

Third Period:

Wes Whitlow gave the Rivermen their biggest lead of the day wiring a Danton Miller feed 1:00 into the period.

After ten minutes of end to end action, Brody Caskenette got Owen Sound on the board with a great individual effort on the power-play off an Andy Campbell pass at 10:36, but Danton Miller answered finishing a Jordan Durston feed 0:35 seconds later. 

Wyatt Barfoot scored in transition for the North Stars unassisted at 14:08, but again was answered by Brooker Muir in transition off a long lead pass from Dusty Hill at 18:11.

Wyatt Barfoot scored once more for Owen Sound off an Andy Campbell pass at 18:35, but that was as close as they would get.

Final score, Six Nations 10 Owen Sound 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Wes Whitlow 
2. Jordan Caskenette 
3. Dusty Hill