Photo Courtesy of David Pickering
The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers improved to 3-0 in the early Major Series Lacrosse season with a tight 6-5 victory over the Brampton Excelsiors on Thursday.
“Truthfully, we got outplayed tonight on all aspects of the floor,” said forward Joe Resetarits, who made his season debut. Resetarits finished with a goal and two assists. “If it wasn’t for Rosey, I don’t think we would have been in that game.”
Despite offensive struggles and having three goals disallowed for crease violations, the Lakers’ defence stood strong, allowing just five goals. Starting goaltender Nick Rose boasts an impressive goals-against average of 5.5 after two games.
Austin Hasen opened the scoring with what could be the goal of the year. Shorthanded, he caught a behind-the-back blind pass from Koleton Marquis and scored up high with one hand.
“Honestly, all credit to Marquis with that pass there, he put it right on my stick, I didn’t really have to move it,” Hasen said. “Luckily, I got [Brampton goalie Riley Hutchcraft] over the shoulder there on a good one. It’s something you mess around with all the time as a lacrosse player; growing up, you throw a one-handed shot all the time in practice. It was the only shot I could have taken at that point and shorthanded we might as well take a chance on it.”
Thirty-three seconds after Riley Delill tied the game for Brampton, Resetarits slipped through the crease and scored far side after getting a step on a defender.
Both teams scored once more in the second period.
In the third, James Whiteford and Thomas Hoggarth exchanged goals early. Brampton’s Nate Ruff then tied it 4-4 on a two-on-one play. Robinson’s second goal of the game put the Lakers back in front, and Colton Armstrong’s transition finish — following a passing play involving Brad McCulley and Matt Gilray — sealed the win.
Robinson led the Lakers’ offence with two goals, while Resetarits and Hoggarth each added a goal and two assists. Hasen and Armstrong also scored, with McCulley, Holden Cattoni, Marquis, Gilray, and Taite Cattoni contributing assists throughout the game.
The Lakers have a busy weekend ahead with road games Saturday in Owen Sound (playing in Meaford) and Sunday in Cobourg. Peterborough returns home next Thursday, June 5, at 8 p.m. to host the Oakville Rock. Tickets are now available at the Grant Thornton Box Office at the Memorial Centre.
