Lakers vs Chiefs MSL Finals- Aug 21

Folowing game two thoughts.

Here is a link two all the goals from the TV Cogeco broadcast.

http://www.tvcogeco.com/peterborough/gallery/our-shows/2931-peterborough-lakers-lacrosse

Lakers have wore down the Chiefs and take a two game lead, coming from behind each game winning down the stretch. Teams have both been scoring in numbers, the Lakers had a four goal stretch in game two and never looked back.periods on each game one and two.

Game 1 - Chiefs had the 2-0 lead after the first period of game one.
In the second, Lakers strike six goals and win the game 10-7.

Game 2 -   Similar score after the first period, only two goals scored one by Six  Nations followed by John Grant for the Lakers.

Six Nations get some power play time and score two quick ones.
 The Lakers tuned in and went on a four goal run.

With a minute to go in the game Lakers goalie Tyler Carlson throws a bounce shot into the Chiefs empty net.

 Lakers are in Six Nations tonight for game three.

Here is the point streak game sheet and stats

http://www.pointstreak.com/prostats/boxscore.html?gameid=1996503



Game four in Peterborough will be on TV Cogeco.
Play-by-play man @Petedalliday  (follow him in twitter) will be there with the call. Host Tyson Geich @TysonLW has the interviews and yours truly @jessethomas21 has the analysis and colour commentary

The Peterborough Lakers can sweep the Brooklin Redmen

August 9, 2012

Lakers defeat Brooklin 11-8 and can sweep the series at home for game four. 

Cory Vitarelli talks during 1st intermission
with host/colour commentator Michelle Farrugia

Leading up to game three, all the talk had surrounded the play of Lakers crease man Cory Vitarelli. His physical play in front and around the crease has been a big part of the Lakers success. He has tallied eight goals and four assists in the the first two games.

To Game three, which was the most entertaining game.

John Grant opened the scoring for the Lakers and then on the ensuing play things get testy as a crowd gathers and Vitarelli has his helmet punched off by Scott Gamble who continued to go after Vitarelli with punches. Players piled up and and got tied up and the  officials did their best to split things up.

The penalty box was a busy spot and players were packed in like sardines. Peterborough had Grant, Matt Giles, Evans and Jamie Lincoln  in the box and Brooklin's big men Jeff Gilbert, John Durno and Kyle Matisz were stuffed in the other side.

Like game one the first period was drawn out with penalties and the score at the end was 5-2 but this time in favour of the Laker favour and they held onto the lead for the rest of the night.

Shawn Evans curls away from Derek Suddons.
Evans leads the playoffs points with 10gs, 18as.

Brooklin tried to get Peterborough off their game by luring them into the rough stuff but to the Lakers credit they stayed away from that and played lacrosse.

Things looked like they were going to get rough as Scott Evans shook his mitts at Gamble trying to even the score for the Vitarelli assault. But Evans invite was ignored as Gamble tried to look the other way.

To the third period and  with under a minute to go. Brooklin’s Shawn Williams went on a slashing spree. Chopping Jim Purves a couple times. The two went face-to-face and it looked like a fight might happen but it didn't. On the next whistle Williams chopped Shawn Evans and the two traded a couple of good slashes. At that point nothing more developed and the Lakers would take game three 11-8.

Tracey Kelusky has a shot on the crease
and Cory Vitarelli gets into a passing lane.

Shawn Evans led the way with four and four, Grant finished with a hat trick and one assist. Jamie Lincoln had two and one. Mark Steeinhuis a goal and two assists. John Tavares had three helpers. Kyle Sorensen scored one as well.

Tyler Carlson played strong in net for the Lakers and made some big saves down the stretch to keep the Lakers in it. Brooklin spent most of the game trailing by two or more goals but they inched back in and made it a one goal game midway through the third. Scoring a a long outside underhand was Williams making the score 9-8.
The game remained close until Evans scored his fourth of the game to make it 10-8 with under 90 seconds to play. Kyle Sorensen added a late goal.

The Lakers are undefeated so far these playoffs, outscoring their opponents 80-46 averaging just better than 13 goals for and allowing fewer that 8 against in six games.

The Lakers take a three game series lead with game four back in Peterborough Monday night 8 PM and the PMC.

Mark Steenhuis drags his way to the net.

Peterborough Lakers defeat Brooklin Redmen 10-8

The Peterborough Lakers began their MSL semifinal series with first place Brooklin Redmen on Sunday. The Lakers got off to a rocky start taking 23 minutes in penalties in the opening period and trailed 5-2 after a long drawn out first period that took nearly 45 minutes to finish.

 Officials had to stop play on a number of occasions and huddled at the timekeepers box to make sure all the penalties added up.

Mac Allen had five minutes for fighting, Shawn Evans took a slashing penalty behind the play, giving Brooklin goalie Aaron Bold a slash on the fibres that may of sounded bad but wouldn't hurt a cat. Kyle Sorensen's cross check rolled up Bold's shoulder and caught him in the neck and Mark Steenhuis took himself out of the first period spending six minutes in the box.

Before all the penalties there was still a lacrosse game being player and Brooklin got up three quick goals. Shawn Williams drove his man low and set a pick and allowed a gap for Scott Campbell to roll in and score on the teams first possession.

The Lakers transition got things rolling offensively for the Lakers. Brad Self took the down the floor on  a two on one and found Steenhuis streaking through in the slot who beat Bold, squeezing a shot over his should. Self then took an outlet pass from goalie Kevin Crosswell and Self finished the breakaway with an underhand shot between the legs.

Brooklin scored two more goals to end the first period with a 5-2 lead.

Brooklin came out the same way they did in the first, scoring on their first shot. Jamie Batley made the call to pull Crosswell for Tyler Carlson and the move paid off.

The Lakers rallied defensively allowing fewer shots and Carlson allowed only two goals in the final 39 minutes of play.

Stepping it up on offense for the Lakers was Cory Vitarelli, creating havoc around the crease, forcing turnovers and picking up loose balls on the doorstep and scoring a hat trick. Josh Wasson also scored and the Lakers led 7-6.

The third saw the Lakers outscore the Redmen 3-2. Picking up his second goal of the game was Steenhuis and Jamie Lincoln and Allen had a goal apiece.

Carlson played well off the bench. The Lakers defence kept on their toes and forced the Redmen away from the middle of the floor and out of their comfort range.

The Lakers played their best team game on offense. Moving the ball well, rotating, always running, setting picks and wearing out the Brooklin defenders.

Three Stars:

1st star - Cory Vitarelli: 3 goals and his spirited play around the net,  forcing turnovers on the crease. His best goal was a turnover steal from Bold and Viatrelli circled the net with the ball and slammed a shot lo.  Self set up Vitarelli in the slot for his first of the game, an outside one timer and his third goal came with under a minute to go in the second giving the Lakers a 7-6 lead.

2nd star - Mac Allen: had a fight in the first and then played a full out strong defensive game. bringing the action to Brooklin and making it hard for their players to their shots and creating turnovers.

3rd star - Tyler Carlson came in for relief early in the second and allowed just two goals in 39 minutes of play.

Out of the lineup was John Grant Jr, Tracy Kelusky and Scott Evans.

Game two is Tuesday 8pm at the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Sport fans and bookworms, you will enjoy this story called "Stickman" written by Don Barrie.  A book  about a troubled boy who finds his way with the help of lacrosse but finds out that his troubled past seems to catch up with him.

It's a great read and lacrosse fans will especially like it. You can purchase the book at the Laker games and get it autographed if you find Don, usually in the northeast corner of the Memorial Centre.

Peterborough vs Brooklin game 1 preview

The Lakers lost the season series with Brooklin taking three of four games. They won the last game to save off a sweep but the playoffs is a new season and for Lakers. Brooklin finished first overall and had a first round bye where the Lakers are coming off a four game sweep against Ajax who are not at the Lakers level.

Brad Self had seven goals in the first three games of the Ajax series he and Shawn Evans have been raising their game and will have to continue to lead the way on the floor John Grant Jr is indispensable and perhaps unstoppable. He has revitalized his game and is coming off a record breaking NLL season (setting a new single season points record with 117pts) and has been busy this summer spending time playing MLL pro field lacrosse with the Chespaeake Bayhawks and box for the Lakers.

Here is an article written about John Grant Jr by Steven Petrella for the Baltimore Sun.