Mark Stehlin
May 25, 2025
The Brooklin Merchants traveled to the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena (ILA) for the second time this season. It's been worth the drive so far as each trip resulted in the all important two points to keep them atop the Ontario Lacrosse Series standings.
It was a tale of two games last night at the ILA in another thriller that the Merchants were able to pull out by a final of 12-11 over their hosts, the Six Nations Rivermen.
The home side jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead with less than a minute off the clock. Thunder Hill buried the ball behind Merchants starter Deacan Knott, who on Wednesday was the back-up goalie for the Peterborough Lakers in a Major Series Lacrosse game at Iroquois Park Sports Centre against the Brooklin Lacrosse Club. The Merchants were able to shake off their bus legs and notched four straight in an eight-minute span to go to the room up 5-1 after twenty minutes.
Things got interesting in the middle frame as the Rivermen found an answer to their lack of goal scoring and were able to score four unanswered to start the second. They won the second period 5-2 and the Merchants had a slim 7-6 lead after forty minutes.
The final period featured the teams trading goals and the Merchants owned a 12-8 lead with half a period remaining. They were able to withstand a furious onslaught by the Rivermen who chipped away at the lead with the final three goals of the night. Their last goal at 1:11 was as close as they would get and the Merchants escaped with the 12-11 win, good for their second over Six Nations this season.
Scoring for the Merchants - P Pipher (1,6) Miller (1,1) McPherson (0,1) Pulera (2,1) D Pipher (2,2) Hyland (1,0) Elliot (1,0) Carrigan (1,4) Renaud (1,1) Costello (0,1) Osborne (1,0)
The Merchants will host the Ennismore James Gang on Friday May 30 at 8 pm at Iroquois Park Sports Centre. They last met on May 13 in Ennismore with the Merchants taking that one by a 12-10 final. Fans are reminded that the IPSC is air-conditioned, now has a turf playing surface and the Merchants Booster Lounge serves ice-cold beverages in Whitney Hall overlooking the playing surface.