The Peterborough Timbermen’s mid-season losing streak hit three games on Saturday after a 17-13 loss to the Oshawa Outlaws at Millbrook Arena. It evens the Timbermen’s Arena Lacrosse League record at 5-5 with four games left in the regular season.
Peterborough sits in fourth place in the eight-team league.
Lineup newcomer Cam Milligan said the team showed glimpses of good things.
“My first game went well,” he said. “We’re just getting to know how to play with each other but there were definitely glimpses of good stuff. I played with a majority of the team before; there are a lot of Trent University guys in the lineup. It’s nice getting back playing.”
Milligan, a member of the Toronto Rock’s practice squad, was acquired to replace lefty sniper Aaron Woods, who was recalled to the Halifax Thunderbirds’ active roster.
Milligan had three goals and one assist in his Timbermen debut. Though he was on the Timbermen’s roster briefly last season, he never suited up.
“Hopefully I can just bring some offensive firepower to the lineup. They’re doing a good job already with scoring so we just need to do the little things. Personally, I’m going to work as hard as I can and take advantage of every opportunity I get.”
Oshawa jumped out to an early 4-0 lead. Jake Gasperetti got the Timbermen on the board with 3:53 left in the first, running the ball from his own end and beating Outlaws’ goaltender Ryan Schuetzkowski. Gareth Haigh added one more for Oshawa before the end of the quarter with an NLL-style dunk goal from behind the net.
Timbermen starting goaltender Thomas Kiazyk settled in during the second quarter, holding the Outlaws to two goals. After Zack Tompkinson put Oshawa up 6-1, Cam Milligan found the back of the net for his first in a Timbermen uniform. Defender Kaleb Bingley followed that up with a high-flying end-to-end transition goal. Cole Hanrahan then drew Peterborough within two with his first of the game. Nick Andreoli scored for Oshawa but that was answered by transition goals from Justin Bragg and Nathan Schultzkie. Peterborough trailed only 7-6 at halftime.
Head coach Joe Sullivan has been rotating Kiazyk and Ethan Woods when both are available, so Woods started in goal for the third quarter. But the Outlaws took advantage of a cold goaltender and suddenly lead 12-6, prompting Sullivan to put Kiazyk back in. Fred Hartley scored the Timbermen’s only goal of the third.
Once again the Timbermen outscored their opponent in the final quarter, getting seven goals to Oshawa’s four, but couldn’t complete the comeback. Milligan scored twice, including a power play goal seconds after he was stopped on a penalty shot after Oshawa took a third penalty with two men already in the box. Riley Curtis and Spender Corkery got on the board and Kaleb Bingley and Cole Hanrahan each scored their second goals of the game.
Peterborough is back in action this coming Saturday, February 24th when they host the Brampton Express at Millbrook Arena at 2 p.m. Tickets will be sold at the doors, which open at 1 p.m.
