Rivermen Ride Great Start To Victory

 

By Gary Groob 

The Owen Sound North Stars (0-1) visited the Six Nations Rivermen (1-0) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Saturday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Calum Leaver-Preyra in net for Owen Sound facing Sam Forbes in net for the Rivermen. 

The Six Nations Rivermen came out flying and never really let their foot off the gas in a high-event matchup against the Owen Sound North Stars. A dominant first period saw Six Nations strike early and often, led by a standout performance from Thunder Hill, who factored into multiple goals. Jordan Goddard and Ross Hill also found the scoresheet as the Rivermen built a strong cushion. Owen Sound managed a late response before the intermission, but the opening frame clearly belonged to Six Nations with their pace, ball movement, and finishing ability setting the tone.

The second period turned chaotic, with a parade to the penalty box and a surge from Owen Sound. The North Stars capitalized on multiple extra-man opportunities and loose defensive coverage, with Jake McNabb and Cohen Jennings leading the charge to bring the game back within reach. However, Six Nations answered at key moments, including a power-play marker from Tyler Brown to steady things. In the third, the Rivermen regained control.  Marshall Powless added a power-play goal, and Brody Thomas netted the eventual game-winner midway through the frame. Despite continued pushes from Owen Sound, including another McNabb tally, Six Nations closed things out with authority, with Thunder Hill capping off a big night to secure the 10-8 victory.

To The Game:

Mitch VanEvery opened the scoring for the Rivermen from in close off a Jordan Goddard pass at 2:13, followed by Ross Hill with a blast off an Anahalihs Doxtator pass at 9:33.

Thunder Hill continued the Six Nations push with a shorthanded marker off a Fisher Godbois feed at 13:30, followed by Anahalihs Doxtator with a blast off a Thunder Hill pass 0:36 seconds later.

Jake McNabb finally got the North Stars on the board on the power-play finishing a Jack Fitzpatrick pass at 16:28, but a tally from Jordan Goddard had Six Nations up by four at the break.

After one period, Six Nations 5 Owen Sound 1.

Second Period:

Owen Sound got off to a much better start in the second with early goals from Cohen Jennings and Noah Milsap, but Ross Hill stopped the mini-run with a sidearm snipe to the corner off a Thunder Hill feed at 4:47.

Owen Sound ramped up the pressure with a three goal run to tie the game.  Jake McNabb finished a Tetsuya Yamada feed at 10:34, followed by Jack Fitzpatrick with a low to low laser to the corner off a Cohen Jennings pass at 12:25.  Jennings then added one himself off a Jordan Caskenette feed on the power-play at 14:04.

Tyler Brown answered back for the Rivermen converting a good feed from Thunder Hill 0:34 seconds later to regain the Six Nations lead.

After two periods, Six Nations 7 Owen Sound 6.

Third Period:

Marshall Powless opened the third period scoring quickly on the power-play with a sidearm snipe off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 0:28 seconds, but Tyson Morrison replied for the North Stars to bring the game back within one at 6:06.

Brody Thomas netted the eventual game winner for the Rivermen on a great individual effort unassisted at 9:38, followed by Thunder Hill with a nice inside move off a Tyler Brown pass at 11:48.

Jake McNabb scored on the power-play with just 0:38 seconds left, but it was too little too late. 

Final score, Six Nations 10 Owen Sound 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Thunder Hill 
2. Jake McNabb 
3. Ross Hill