Bengals Put Together Strong Third But Merchants Hold On For The Win

Written by Gary Groob  - All Lacrosse All The Time 

The Hamilton Bengals (8-6-1) visited the Brooklin Merchants (13-2) in Ontario Series Lacrosse action Friday night at the Luther Vipond Memorial Arena in Whitby, Ontario.

The Merchants have had a stellar year thus far, and were hoping to continue the momentum with the playoffs beginning next week.  Hamilton was on a three game win streak heading into this game, including a big win over the Six Nations Rivermen two weeks ago.

The goaltending match-up had Chase Cosgrove in net for Hamilton facing Deacan Knott in net for Brooklin. 

Brooklin came out roaring getting out to a 6-0 lead before the Bengals got on the scoresheet.  Trent Boyd led the way with a pair of goals in the first.

The second period was much more of a back and forth affair.  The teams traded goals throughout the frame.  Zac Carrigan led Brooklin with a hat-trick in the period, while Hamilton's Tye Argent continued his big game with a couple of assists to add to the two goals he had in the first.

The third period saw the Bengals get rolling early with three goals.  Greg Love had a pair in the period but the hole was just too deep for the Bengals to dig out of.  Brooklin wins their thirteenth of the season 13-10.

To The Game:

Trent Boyd opened the scoring for the Merchants potting a pair quickly into the game.  The first came off a turnover, making no mistake at 2:09 unassisted, followed by a blast off a Tyler Goodchild pass at 4:19.

Robert Morgan added to Brooklin's lead in transition off a long lead pass from Deacan Knott at 7:23, followed by Darren Elliott finishing a Parker Pipher feed from in front at 11:50.

Parker Pipher added insult to injury with a shorthanded marker off a Ryan McCrory feed at 14:38, followed by Cody Hamley's laser off a Jacob Hickey feed at 15:49 for a 6-0 lead.

Hamilton finally got on the board when Tye Argent scored back to back goals.  His first was a low to low shot off a Cooper Day-Allison pass at 17:09, followed by an outside blast off a Cam Milligan feed at 18:30.

After one period, Brooklin 6 Hamilton 2.

Second Period:

Hamilton changed goalies to start the second period.  Chase Cosgrove was replaced by Sam Haines. 

Both squad's special teams were on display in this period.

Zac Carrigan increased the Merchants lead on the power-play firing an Eddie Renaud pass in at 1:33, but Shane Halliwell answered for the Bengals also with a power-play marker off a Tye Argent pass at 3:56.

Carrigan again found the back of the net off an Eddie Renaud feed on the power-play at 8:47, but Hamilton responded in kind with Cam Milligan firing a missile from in close off a Tye Argent pass at 9:16.

Darren Elliott got on the scoresheet for Brooklin followed by Carrigan's third of the period off a an Elliot feed at 11:17, but Halliwell's second of the game stopped Brooklin's mini run off a Thomas MacDonald pass 0:29 seconds later. 

Jacob Hickey added a shorthanded goal off a Kellen Pulera pass at 16:30, but Aidan Buis responded for Hamilton with a sidearm snipe off a Cam Milligan pass at 18:21.

After two periods, Brooklin 11 Hamilton 6.

Third Period:

Hamilton came out on fire quickly scoring three quick goals.  The first was from Greg Love converting a Trevor McDonald pass at 2:13, followed by Halliwell with his third of the game off a Tye Argent pass at 4:28.  

Neil McInroy brought the game within two with a low to low shot from the outside off a Dawson Brown pass 0:26 seconds later, but Trent Boyd's third of the game in transition stopped the Bengals run off a Parker Pipher feed at 7:01.

Greg Love scored his second of the game for Hamilton on a great individual effort at 14:27, but that was as close as they would get.   Jacob Hickey scored with just 0:49 seconds left in the game to seal the deal for Brooklin. 

Final score, Brooklin 13 Hamilton 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Trent Boyd 
2. Darren Elliott 
3. Tye Argent