By TRT Staff with notes from sixnationschiefs.blogspot.com
SIX NATIONS — After their last games closed their regular season with victories in July, the Six Nations Senior ‘A’ Chiefs moved to a 4-1 lead against the Cobourg Kodiaks. This pitted them against their long-time rivals, the Peterborough Lakers, in the Maker Series Lacrosse (MSL) final.
Game 1 was scheduled for Tuesday, August 15, and brought the rivals to the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
The Lakers struck first two minutes into the game. But the Chiefs silenced them for the rest of the first period. By scoring five consecutive goals to lead 5-1 by the end, Austin Staats earned two, while Randy Staats, Ben McIntosh, and Lyle Thompson added singles.
Austin Staats kept the momentum going in the second period, opening scoring with his third of the game two minutes in. The Lakers responded twice, but Eric Fannell and Randy Staats cancelled them out in between. Austing Staats put up his fourth, before the Lakers offered two, making the score 9-5 for the Chiefs.
The Lakers looked to close the gap with two final goals in the third period, but Lyle Thompson scored his second goal of the night to add insurance. This ended Game 1 in the Chiefs favour, 10-7, putting the series 1-0.
Coming in with a lead for Game 2 on Thursday, August 17, the Chiefs visited the Peterborough Memorial Centre for an away match.
Despite not having the home team advantage, Ben McIntosh, Liam Leclair unassisted and Larson Sundown started the game off with three goals in three minutes to kick off the first period. Tim Edwards and Austin Staats gave the Chiefs the responses to the Lakers two goals, securing an early 5-2 lead.
The Chiefs controlled the second period early, as Brendan Bomberry scored from Lyle Thompson and Eric Fannell put a single down from Thompson as well. With the remaining four minutes of the period, the Lakers mustered two goals, making the game 7-4 for the Chiefs.
In the third period, the Lakers did their best to cut the lead with two goals, before Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson offered singles and Austin Staats put up a double by the last 17 seconds. This finalized Game 2 at 11-6.
Warren Hill performed between the pipes for the Chiefs making 50 stops, making the series a firm 2-0.
Game Three was set for Monday, August 22, back on home soil for the Chiefs at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
The Chiefs controlled the game, scoring 10 unanswered goals to defeat the Peterborough Lakers 13-5. A definite highlight of the game, was an unintentional shot from a back-handed lob by Randy Staats making its way to the back of the Lakers net in the third period.
The victory gives the Chiefs a 3-0 series lead and stands the four-time defending MSL champions on the brink of a near-perfect final.
As for in-game scoring, Randy Staats led the Chiefs with two goals in the first period, one unassisted, against the Lakers two goals.
This opened the second period 2-2, and Lyle Thompson offered his first three minutes in. The Lakers responded with three goals of their own, securing the lead.
But the Chiefs came back with Randy Staats, Shayne Jackson, Tyson Bell, and Ben McIntosh adding to the lead, finishing the second period 7-5 for the Chiefs.
In the third period, the Chiefs prevented the Lakers from scoring at all. Ty Logan, Austin Staats, Shayne Jackson, Lyle Thompson, Randy Staats and Brad Kri earned six singles, delivering a devastating lead. This cinched the victory 13-5.
Doug Jamieson was a wall between the Chiefs’ pipes to get his second win of the series.
Game 4 of the best-of-seven series will fall on Wednesday, August 23 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre and will give the Chiefs the chance to close out the series.
CUTLINE:
SIX NATIONS — The Chiefs finished their series with the Cobourg Kodiaks on top with a final 4-1 in the best-of-seven. They advanced to play the Peterborough Lakers last week and have made big waves since, leading the series 3-0. Photo by TRT Staff.