Rivermen's Dominant Showing Sends Them To The OSL Finals

By Gary Groob 

The Hamilton Bengals traveled to face the Six Nations Rivermen in game three of the Ontario Series Lacrosse semi-finals with their backs against the wall.  Down 2-0 the Bengals needed to win to keep the best of five series alive at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Aden Walsh in net for Hamilton facing Cam Dunkerley in net for the Rivermen. 

The Six Nations Rivermen punched their ticket to the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals with a convincing 17-8 victory over the Hamilton Bengals, completing a three-game semifinal sweep Friday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena. David Anderson led the offensive explosion with four goals and five assists, while Thunder Hill had with four goals and three assists. Greg Elijah-Brown added a hat trick and four assists as the Rivermen built a 5-2 first-period lead before erupting for nine second-period goals to put the game out of reach.

Hamilton received two goals from Zach Terry and single markers from Justin Hill, Jaden Patterson, Nile Cyr, Tye Argent, Devyn Mayea, and Nolan Marshall, but could not keep pace with Six Nations' relentless attack. Cam Dunkerley was solid between the pipes when called upon, while the Rivermen showcased their offensive depth with 17 goals from six different scorers. Six Nations now awaits the winner of the Brooklin Merchants–Owen Sound NorthStars semifinal to determine its opponent in the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals.

To The Game:

The Bengals got off to a quick start with Justin Hill opening the scoring off a turnover unassisted at 1:25, but Thunder Hill responded with a laser to the corner off a Jackson Webster pass at 6:46 to tie the game.

Mitch VanEvery gave the Rivermen their first lead of the night converting a Thunder Hill feed from in close at 7:54, followed by David Anderson with back to back markers. 

Anderson's first goal was his standard blast from the outside to the top corner off a Greg Elijah-Brown pass at 9:35, followed by a low to low laser off again off an Elijah-Brown feed at 10:35.  

Jaden Patterson stopped the Rivermen's run with a blast off a Brendan Campbell pass at 14:59, but Thunder Hill added his second of the game off an Anderson pass at 17:07 to once again increase the lead to three.

After one period, Six Nations 5 Hamilton 2.

Second Period:

Six Nations opened the second period with Tyler Brown scoring off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 48 seconds, but the Bengals were still scratching away with Zach Terry scoring off a loose ball unassisted at 3:44 to stay in the game.

Greg Elijah-Brown got on the scoresheet with a sidearm snipe off a Jackson Webster pass at 4:50, followed by Thunder Hill with his third of the game off a David Anderson pass at 6:13.

Hamilton got back in the game scoring twice in 16 seconds.  Nile Cyr converted a Curtis Ward pass at 7:07, followed by Tye Argent with a quick stick off a Jaden Patterson feed at 12:23 on a delayed penalty. 

Six Nations then took charge of the game exploding for three goals in 3:44.  Greg Elijah-Brown converted a David Anderson pass at 7:44, followed by Mitch VanEvery with a blast off an Elijah-Brown feed at 8:13.  David Anderson's third of the game came in transition finishing a lead pass from Alex Kew at 11:30.

The game's intensity picked up with both teams taking a number of late roughing/misconduct penalties to the tune of 28 minutes. 

Greg Elijah-Brown continued the Rivermen's onslaught with his third of the game blasting a Thunder Hill pass at 16:18.

Devyn Mayea got one back for the Bengals in transition 38 seconds later unassisted, but David Anderson answered with his fourth of the game off a Mitch VanEvery pass at 17:16.

Thunder Hill scored with 33 seconds remaining in the period to send the Rivermen to the intermission up by eight.

After two periods, Six Nations 14 Hamilton 6.

Third Period:

Hamilton opened the third period scoring with Zach Terry converting a Neil McInroy pass at 2:09.  

Mitch VanEvery replied with a blast off a Jackson Webster pass at 4:04, followed by David Peterkin with a blast off an Anahalihs Doxtator pass at 9:15.

Nolan Marshall scored for the Bengals off a Zach Terry pass at 14:53, but David Peterkin again responded for the Rivermen with a laser off a David Anderson pass at 18:06 to put an exclamation on the game and series.

Final score, Six Nations 17 Hamilton 8.

The Three Stars:

1. David Anderson 
2.  Thunder Hill 
3. Greg Elijah-Brown

The Rivermen sweep the series 3-0, and now await the winner of the Brooklin/Owen Sound series to see who their opponents are in the Ontario Series Lacrosse Finals.