SIX NATIONS – The 2014 and 2015 Minto Cup Champion Six Nation Arrows are not used to being behind the eight ball, but they will have to find a way to win against the Orangeville Northmen after falling behind three games to none in the Jr. A playoffs.
After falling short by one goal Thursday at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena, it was hoped they could even the series in Orangeville, Saturday night. That did not happen as the Northmen went up two games to none with a 12-9 Game 2 win.
So when Game 3 came back to the ILA, Sunday night, the plan was clear and simple. Start playing like the team that got us here.
Despite outshooting the Northmen, 55-38, the Arrows could not find the range against Nolan Clayton in the Orangeville net in a low scoring 5-4 Game 3.
Austin Staats and Tahoke Nanticoke netted Arrows goals in the first period with a Adam Charalambides goal sandwiched between for a 2-1, Six Nations lead.
Lucas Ducharme evened the the score at 2-2 at 10:38 of the second before Brenden Bomberry scored to restore the narrow one goal Arrows’ lead, ending the second period 3-2.
Orangeville showed they wanted it just a little more in the third period, out-scoring the Arrows 3-1 in the final 20 minutes of the game to win Game #3 of the best of seven series.
The game winner was scored with less than 30 seconds left in Game 1 of the Jr. A lacrosse playoffs to give the Orangeville Northmen a 13-12 win last Thursday night at the ILA.
Austin Staats accounted for half of the Arrows goals scoring six and adding three assists.
It was 5-2 for the Arrows after the first period, but the Northmen made up that ground with a strong second period, outscoring Six Nations 9-4 for a two period score of 11-9 for the Northmen.
Staats and Zach Miller evened the score in the third period but Matt Gilray was given a gift and scored an unassisted goal for the game winner.
The Tony Rose Memorial Arena was the scene of the all-important Game 4 in a game that missed our deadline. Should Six Nations win, the series returns to the ILA at 8 p.m. Thursday, July 11th.
A possible Game 5 is back in Orangeville Friday night at 8 p.m. and a possible Game 6 at the ILA, Saturday night at 8 p.m.. Game 7, if necessary, will be at the ILA Sunday night at 7 p.m..