The Merchants Outlast The Bengals With A Pair Of Late Goals For The Win

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Brooklin Merchants traveled west to face the Hamilton Bengals in game two of the best of five Ontario Series Lacrosse playoff series at the Mountain Arena in Hamilton, Ontario. 

A close game in game one had the Merchants escape with a 9-7 win.  Eddie Renaud (2g,0a), Devon Pipher (2g,2a) and Parker Pipher (2g,1a) led the way for Brooklin.  Cam Milligan (2g,1a) and Shane Halliwell (2g,2a) led the way for Hamilton. 

The goaltending match-up had Lucas Coote in net for Brooklin facing Dylan Sprentz in net for Hamilton. 

In another evenly played game, a strong third period had the Merchants come from behind to get the one goal victory.  Nine different scorers on eleven goals showed how versatile a lineup Brooklin has.  For Hamilton Neil McInroy (2g,1a), Shane Halliwell (2g,1a), Dawson Brown (2g,0a) and Cooper Day-Allison (2g,0a) each had a pair in the loss. 

Brooklin takes a 2-0 series lead with a narrow 11-10 victory.

To The Game:

Dawson Brown got Hamilton on the board first with a blast off a Tye Argent pass at 0:25 seconds, but Alexis Simard tied the game off a Tyler Goodchild feed at 9:43.

Cooper Day-Allison gave the Bengals the lead on the power-play wiring a Tye Argent feed at 10:59, followed by Shane Halliwell converting a Trevor McDonald pass at 12:36.

Jacob Hickey brought the Merchants within one on a goal from in close off an Alexis Simard pass at 12:49, but Neil McInroy fired an Andrew Vradenburg pass shorthanded at 14:26.

Ben MacDonnell scored for the Merchants at 19:17, but Hamilton responded when Shane Halliwell scored his second of the period with just 0:01 second remaining on the power-play. 

After one period, Hamilton 5 Brooklin 3.

Second Period:

Hamilton got off to a fast start scoring twice in the first minute.  Dawson Brown scored immediately off the faceoff at 0:07 seconds followed by Neil McInroy converting a turnover unassisted at 0:44 seconds.

Deacan Knott replaced Lucas Coote in the Brooklin net.

Cooper Day-Allison welcomed Knott to the game with a blast off a Trevor McDonald feed at 1:25, but Robert Morgan converted an Eddie Renaud pass at 3:19 to get the Merchants back in the game.

Renaud himself then added a goal off a John Wheller pass in transition at 4:18, followed by Jacob Hickey scoring unassisted on a delayed penalty to the Bengals.

Kellen Pulera kept the pressure on Hamilton scoring off a John Wheller pass at 10:04, followed by Darren Elliott finishing a Trent Boyd feed at 11:22 to tie the game.

Tyson Allison scored on the power-play to stop the Merchants five goal run off an Adam Hawrelak pass at 19:29.

After two periods, Hamilton 9 Brooklin 8.

Third Period:

After twelve minutes of end to end action, Ben MacDonnell finally tied the game for Brooklin off a Trent Boyd pass at 12:54, but Vern Hill put the Bengals in the lead with just 4:38 remaining. 

Brooklin kept up the pressure.  John Wheller was rewarded in transition converting an Eddie Renaud pass at 15:44, followed by Zac Carrigan with a low to low blast off a Parker Pipher feed at 16:15 to take the lead.

Hamilton poured on the pressure.  With the goalie pulled and six attackers on, they still couldn't solve Deacan Knott in the Merchants net.

Final score, Brooklin 11 Hamilton 10.

The Three Stars:

1. John Wheller 
2. Shane Halliwell 
3. Deacan Knott 

Brooklin takes a 2-0 lead in the best of five playoff series.