Third Period Surge Powers Cruise Past James Gang

By Gary Groob 

The Ennismore James Gang (2-6) faced the Collingwood Cruise (2-5) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action at the Eddie Bush Arena in Collingwood, Ontario.

The goaltending match-up had Riley Finn in net for the James Gang facing Oliver Vanyo in net for the Cruise. 

The Collingwood Cruise erased a two-goal deficit with a dominant third-period surge to defeat the Ennismore James Gang 12-8 on Saturday afternoon at Eddie Bush Arena. After a tightly contested opening forty minutes that saw the lead change hands several times, Ennismore carried an 8-6 advantage into the final frame behind strong offensive performances from Liam Vollans, Daniel Clark, and Robbie McGrayne. The James Gang appeared to be in control after scoring four of the final five goals of the second period, while Collingwood shuffled goaltenders between Oliver Vanyo and Dante Mancini in an effort to spark a comeback.

That spark arrived in emphatic fashion in the third period. The Cruise exploded for six unanswered goals, beginning with Tye Burke just 56 seconds into the frame. Braydon Hickey tied the game at 8-8 before Titus Chapman and Zack Gignac scored 25 seconds apart to put Collingwood ahead for good. Graham Bergsma and Hickey added insurance markers as the Cruise completely took over the contest. Gignac led the charge with four goals, while Hickey, Burke, Forsythe, and Bergsma all played key roles in the comeback as Collingwood closed the game on a remarkable 6-0 run to secure the 12-8 victory.

To The Game:

Collingwood got off to a great start with Tye Burke converting a Braydon Hickey pass at 1:36, followed by Zack Gignac with a great individual effort unassisted at 8:12 for an early 2-0 Cruise lead.

Liam Vollans got Ennismore on track finishing a Robbie McGrayne feed from the side of the net at 9:15, followed by Daniel Clark quick sticking a Vollans pass at 10:36 to tie the game.  

Max Taylor then gave the James Gang the lead shorthanded, finishing a Nate Allen pass in transition at 11:32, but Braeden Lockyer-Fagan would again tie the game with a low laser off a Chase Forsythe pass at 19:54.

After one period, Ennismore 3 Collingwood 3.

Second Period:

Chase Forsythe gave Collingwood the early lead off a Braeden Lockyer-Fagan pass at 1:04, but Liam Vollans replied with an unassisted tally 52 seconds later.

Vollans then converted a Reagan Martinell pass from in close at 3:15, followed by Robbie McGrayne with an outside howitzer off a Michael Blaymires feed at 5:12.

Dante Mancini replaced Oliver Vanyo in the Collingwood net. 

Zack Gignac answered with back to back goals.  His second of the game brought the Cruise within one off a Graham Bergsma pass at 10:46, followed by a low to low laser off a Braydon Hickey feed at 11:48.

Oliver Vanyo went back in the Cruise's net.

Daniel Clark gave the James Gang the lead once again with a sidearm snipe off a Liam Vollans pass at 18:16, followed by Robbie McGrayne with an in close tally off a Clark feed at 19:57.

After two periods, Ennismore 8 Collingwood 6.

Third Period:

Dante Mancini went back in the Collingwood net.

Whatever was said in the Collingwood dressing room at the break lit a fire under the team.

The Cruise came out flying in the third period.   Tye Burke brought the Cruise within one goal with a sidearm snipe off a Chase Forsythe pass at 0:56 seconds, followed by Braydon Hickey finishing a Graham Bergsma pass at 7:09 to tie the game 8-8.

Titus Chapman kept the Cruises momentum with a blast off a Hickey feed at 11:38, followed by Zack Gignac with his fourth of the afternoon converting a Braeden Lockyer-Fagan pass from the side of the net at 12:03.

Graham Bergsma hit a bomb from the outside off a Tye Burke pass 37 seconds later, followed by Braydon Hickey's second of the game at 18:45 off a Scott Edwards feed.

Final score, Collingwood 12 Ennismore 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Zack Gignac 
2. Liam Vollans 
3. Braydon Hickey