The Merchants Continue To Dominate

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Ennismore James Gang (0-8) faced the Brooklin Merchants (8-1) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Friday night at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena. 

These teams have been heading in different directions.  The younger James Gang squad have been getting stronger as the year has gone on, but have had trouble scoring.  

The Merchants have been a force all year, led by Eddie Renaud (16g, 25a), Christian Watts (13g,19a), Parker Pipher (12g;17a), and Kellen Pulera (11g,13a).

The goaltending match-up had Drew Hutchison in net for Ennismore facing Lucas Coote in net for Brooklin. 

In a game against the high powered Brooklin Merchants, the Ennismore James Gang had their biggest output of the season.  Carter Page (3g,2a) and Holden Lowes (2g,0a) led the offense for Ennismore. 

Brooklin scored early and often, flexing their offensive prowess all game long.  Christian Watts (3g,5a), Eddie Renaud (3g,1a), and Jacob Hickey (3g,0a) each had hat-tricks, while Devon Pipher (2g,6a), Parker Pipher (2g,3a) and Darren Elliott (2g,2a) had a pair each in the onslaught.   The Merchants won Handily 17-8.

To The Game:

Brooklin got on the board first when Christian Watts converted a Parker Pipher pass at 1:43, followed by Devon Pipher blasting a Watts feed at 6:23.

The James Gang cut the lead in half with Carter Page finishing a JJ Bryers pass at 8:06, but a four goal run put the Merchants in control of the game.

Jacob Hickey wired a Devon Pipher pass at 8:06.  Darren Elliott then found the corner off an Eddie Renaud feed 0:18 seconds later, followed by Kobe Handsor in transition off a John Wheller pass at 10:31.  Eddie Renaud then added a power-play goal off a Kellen Pulera pass at 16:09 for a 6-1 Merchants lead.

Holden Lowes got Ennismore rolling again with a great individual effort off a Carter Page pass just 0:06 seconds later, followed by Josh Campbell converting a DJ Crough feed at 17:11.

After one period, Brooklin 6 Ennismore 3.

Second Period:

Eddie Renaud opened the second period scoring on the power-play finishing a Devon Pipher pass at 4:59, followed by Parker Pipher just 0:11 seconds later.  

Holden Lowes scored his second of the game for Ennismore at 12:25, but was answered by Devon Pipher blasting a Christian Watts feed at 13:23.  

Carter Page then scored his second of the game off a Taylor Dooley pass at 15:49, but Parker Pipher answered for Brooklin off a Darren Elliott pass at 16:59.

Alex Simard scored shorthanded in transition  for the Merchants at 17:55, but Carter Page added his third goal off a Hunter Gilmore feed at 18:03.

Christian Watts and DJ Crough traded goals in the last minute of the period of this back and forth affair.

After two periods, Brooklin 12 Ennismore 7.

Third Period:

Christian Watts wasted no time scoring just 0:10 seconds into the period off a Grant Breyo pass, followed by Jacob Hickey scoring a pair of goals.  Hickey's first was off a Parker Pipher pass at 4:09, followed by low to low shot off a Ryan McCrory feed at 5:26.

Curtis Martin stopped the Merchants run unassisted at 6:40, but goals by Darren Elliott and Eddie Renaud increased the Merchants lead to Nine with 11:45 left to play.  

The game got chippy with both teams taking a combined 46 minutes in penalties, 30 minutes in the third period alone. 

Final score, Brooklin 17 Ennismore 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Christian Watts 
2. Devon Pipher 
3. Carter Page