Terry And Patterson Lead Bengals To Game One Victory

By Gary Groob 

The Ennismore James Gang traveled west to face the Hamilton Bengals in game one of the Ontario Series Lacrosse playoffs at the Dave Andreychuk Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. 

The goaltending match-up had Cole George in net for the James Gang facing Aden Walsh in net for the Bengals.

Hamilton protected home floor in a wildly entertaining back-and-forth affair, surviving several Ennismore rallies to earn a 14-12 victory over the James Gang in Game 1 of their Ontario Series Lacrosse playoff series at Dave Andreychuk Arena.

Jaden Patterson sparked the Bengals with a three-goal performance, while Zach Terry also added three goals and three assists. Brendan Campbell (2g, 1a), Dustin Sparks (2g, 3a), and Tye Ingram (1g, 2a) also played key roles as Hamilton repeatedly answered every James Gang push. After surrendering the lead during Ennismore's four-goal second-period surge, the Bengals responded with six of the next eight goals to regain control and never looked back.

Ennismore refused to go quietly, led by Nick DiLauro's outstanding four-goal effort. Holden Lowes scored twice, while Adam Churchill, Frank Coyle, Maxwell Taylor, Matt Tamlin, Liam Vollans, and Nate Allen all contributed as the James Gang chipped away at Hamilton's lead throughout the night. Despite pulling within two goals late in the third period, the visitors couldn't complete the comeback as the Bengals held on for the 14-12 win and a 1-0 series lead.

To The Game:

The Bengals got on the board with back to back markers from Jaden Patterson.  The first came off an Ethan Riggs feed from in front at 7:14, followed by an outside blast on the power-play off a Tye Ingram pass at 10:11.

Nick DiLauro cut the lead in half with a shot from the top of the crease off a Robbie McGrayne pass at 14:28, but Dustin Sparks got the Bengals back in charge in transition off an Andy Campbell pass at 15:42.

Andy Campbell increased Hamilton's lead grabbing a loose ball, scoring unassisted at 16:23, but Liam Vollans kept the James Gang in the game with a power-play marker off a Frank Coyle pass at 18:53.

After one period, Hamilton 4 Ennismore 2.

Second Period:

Zach Terry increased the Bengals lead with a blast off a Tye Ingram pass at 3:56, but Ennismore would explode for the next four tallies. 

Holden Lowes converted an Adam Churchill pass at 4:20, followed by Maxwell Taylor with a blast immediately off the ensuing faceoff just seconds later.

Nick DiLauro then scored in transition off a Frank Coyle feed at 6:00, followed by Matt Tamlin converting a Tyler Grandel pass at 7:07 to take a one goal lead.

The Bengals replaced Aden Walsh with Sam Haines in net. 

Not to be outdone, the Bengals roared back with Brendan Campbell finding the corner off a Dawson Brown pass at 8:16, followed by Nolan Marshall with a shot from the top of the crease off a Jaden Patterson pass at 9:18 to regain the lead.  Zach Terry then blasted a howitzer from the outside also off a Patterson pass at 15:17.

Nick DiLauro's second of the game brought Ennismore within a goal at 16:26, but Brendan Campbell got it back finishing a Zach Terry feed at 17:00.  Jaden Patterson then scored shorthanded with a low bounced shot off a Nolan Marshall pass at 18:19.

Nate Allen then scored a late goal for Ennismore off a broken play unassisted at 19:50.

After two periods, Hamilton 10 Ennismore 8.

Third Period:

Zach Terry opened the third period scoring for Hamilton off a Dustin Sparks feed at 2:31, followed by Dawson Brown with a sidearm snipe off a Brendan Campbell pass 19 seconds later.  Tye Ingram then put a stranglehold on the game with a blast off a Zach Terry pass at 8:44 to open a five goal lead. 

The James Gang kept fighting with Adam Churchill scoring on the power-play off a Nick DiLauro pass at 9:54, followed by DiLauro himself with a low to low laser off a Robbie McGrayne pass at 12:00.

Dustin Sparks got one back for Hamilton, but late goals from Frank Coyle and Holden Lowes got the James Gang within two.  

Ennismore fought hard, but the hole was just a bit too deep to climb out of.

Final score, Hamilton 14 Ennismore 12.

The Three Stars:

1. Jaden Patterson 
2. Nick DiLauro 
3. Zach Terry 

Hamilton takes a 1-0 lead in the best of three series.  Game two goes Sunday afternoon at the Lakefield Arena in Lakefield, Ontario at 4 pm.