Ross Hill Scores Late To Give The Rivermen The Victory

Photo courtesy of Andrew VanEvery 

By Gary Groob 

The Hamilton Bengals (1-1) traveled to the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Haggersville, Ontario, to face the Six Nations Rivermen (3-0) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Saturday night. 

This is the first meeting of these two teams since Six Nations eliminated the Bengals in the semi-finals of last year's playoffs. 

The goaltending match-up had Sam Haines in net for Hamilton facing Sam Forbes in net for the Rivermen. 

The Six Nations Rivermen erased an early three-goal deficit and rallied late to defeat the Hamilton Bengals 9-8 in a hard-fought battle.

Hamilton came out flying in the opening period, jumping ahead 3-0 on goals from Dawson Brown, Zach Terry, and Tye Argent within the first four minutes. Six Nations answered back behind Dalton Kane’s individual effort before the teams traded goals through the remainder of the period. Eddie Renaud scored twice for Hamilton, while newly acquired Braedon Saris and Thunder Hill helped keep the Rivermen within striking distance as the Bengals carried a 5-4 lead after one.

The Bengals extended their advantage in the second period when Tye Argent struck early, but Six Nations responded with back-to-back goals from Marshall Powless and Ross Hill to tie the game. Hamilton regained momentum late in the frame with goals from Jaden Patterson and Andy Campbell to take an 8-6 lead into the third period.

Six Nations took control in the final frame with a determined comeback effort. Braedon Saris buried his second of the night before Mitch VanEvery tied the game in transition with just over four minutes remaining. Moments later, Ross Hill fired home the game-winning goal off a Marshall Powless feed to give the Rivermen their first lead of the night.

Hamilton pushed for the equalizer late, but the Rivermen defense and goaltender Sam Forbes shut the door to secure the comeback victory.

Final score: Six Nations 9, Hamilton 8.

To The Game:

Hamilton got off to a great start jumping out to a 3-0 lead.  Dawson Brown opened the scoring with a blast off an Andy Campbell pass at 1:00, followed by Zach Terry finishing a Nick D'amico feed 0:49 seconds later.  Tye Argent then scored off a Josh Sanchez pass at 4:06 to set the pace of the game.

Dalton Kane got Six Nations on the board with a great individual effort unassisted at 6:13, but Eddie Renaud got the Bengals back on track with a low laser from the outside off a Zach Terry pass at 12:12.

The Rivermen kept coming with the newly acquired Braedon Saris scoring off a Thunder Hill pass at 13:57, followed by Hill himself from in close finishing a Saris feed with a low to high shot at 14:06.

Eddie Renaud restored the two goal lead with a blast off a Dawson Brown pass at 14:44, but Tyler Brown replied for the Rivermen finishing a Ross Hill pass at 16:04.

After one period, Hamilton 5 Six Nations 4.

Second Period:

Tye Argent got the Bengals rolling in the second period with a sidearm snipe to the corner off a Devyn Mayea pass at 3:39, but tallies from Marshall Powless and Ross Hill back to back had the game tied at 6:22.

Hamilton put it in another gear in the second half of the period with Jaden Patterson scoring off a Tye Argent pass at 11:10, followed by Andy Campbell with a laser off an Argent feed at 14:08.

After two periods, Hamilton 8 Six Nations 6.

Photo courtesy of Andrew VanEvery 

Third Period:

Six Nations came out on a mission in the third period.  Braedon Saris scored his second of the game from in close at 6:13, followed by Mitch VanEvery tying the game off a Jacob Crans pass in transition at 15:28.

With 2:36 remaining, Ross Hill fired a low to low laser off a Marshall Powless feed to put the Rivermen in the lead for the first time in the game.  

Hamilton tried to even the game, but the Rivermen defense, and goalie Sam Forbes were up to the challenge. 

Final score, Six Nations 9 Hamilton 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Ross Hill 

2. Tye Argent 

3. Braedon Saris