Rivermen Ride Great Start To Victory

By Gary Groob

The Collingwood Cruise (0-1) visited the Six Nations Rivermen (1-0) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action, at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Oliver Vanyo in net for the Cruise facing Elan Henhawk in net for the Rivermen. 

The Rivermen got off to a strong start, never to look back.  Led by Mitch VanEvery and Thunder Hill with a pair each, Six Nations jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one frame.

Collingwood fought back in the second with Chris Harland scoring a pair, Gareth Haigh and Graham Bergsma also getting markers for the cruise.  However, the combination of Hill and VanEvery continued to be potent whether scoring or facilitating, as the Rivermen increased their lead to 10-4 after two periods.

The third period turned into an offensive showcase for the Six Nations Rivermen as they exploded for seven goals to put the game out of reach against the Cruise.  Thunder Hill was at the center of the attack, piling up four assists in the period, while Ross Hill and Mason Hill each recorded multi-point efforts to help Six Nations close out an emphatic 17-10 victory.

To The Game:

Six Nations got off to a strong start with Mitch VanEvery finishing a Kevin Owen-Hill feed from in close at 5:15, followed by a pair from Thunder Hill.  The first was off an Anahalihs Doxtator pass, followed quickly by a Mason Hill pass, which Hill was able to convert from in close at 7:57.

Marshall Powless continued the early barrage with an outside blast off a Ross Hill feed at 11:22, followed by Mitch VanEvery with a sidearm snipe to the corner off a Powless dish at 18:28.

After one period, Six Nations 5 Collingwood 0.

Second Period:

Gareth Haigh got the Cruise on the board scoring on the power-play off a Braeden Lockyer-Fagan pass at 0:54 seconds, followed by Chris Harland with a quick stick off a Josh Thompson feed at 6:46 to get Collingwood back in the game.

Tyson Bomberry stopped the Cruise's run with a low to low shot off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 7:46, followed by Ross Hill scoring from in close at 12:56 to restore the five goal lead.

Graham Bergsma scored in transition off a Sam Neely lead pass at 14:03, followed by Chris Harland with his second of the period 0:57 seconds later, to again get Collingwood back in the game.

Six Nations exploded for three quick goals late in the period to take control of the game.  Rodd Squire blasted a Thunder Hill pass at 15:49, followed by Hill himself with a laser from in close to the shortside off an Anahalihs Doxtator feed at 16:28.  Marty Hill then fired a rope to the corner off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 17:59.

After two periods, Six Nations 10 Collingwood 4.

Third Period:

Kevin Owen-Hill opened the third period scoring on the power-play off a Mason Hill pass at 1:19, followed by Marshall Powless with a blast also off a Hill feed at 3:15.

Steve Pelliccione got one back for the Cruise shorthanded finishing a Chris Harland feed at 5:00, but Ross Hill answered quickly with a low shot off a Kevin Owen-Hill pass 0:56 seconds later.

Marcus Elvin increased the Rivermen in transition going end to end unassisted at 6:24, but a power-play marker from Braeden Lockyer-Fagan kept the Cruise in the game at 10:41.

The Rivermen would then rhyme off three goals in 2:17 to put an exclamation mark on the game. 

Rodd Squire converted a Ross Hill pass at 12:31, followed by Kevin Owen-Hill finishing a Marcus Elvin feed at 13:07.  Mitch VanEvery then blasted a Ross Hill pass low to high 0:41 seconds later.

Collingwood kept battling, and were rewarded with a pair of goals late in the game.  Nathan Service scored in transition off a long lead pass from Oliver Vanyo at 15:29, followed by Gareth Haigh with his second of the game off an Ashton Lankowski pass at 17:31.

Final score, Six Nations 17 Collingwood 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Thunder Hill 
2. Mitch VanEvery 
3. Ross Hill