Tor/Oran #4 report

SCARBOROUGH BOUND

TORONTO - The Beaches may have faltered at home during the regular season but in the playoffs they were perfect at Ted Reeve. Monday night they won their last game at home, a resounding 15-9 triumph over Orangeville, to even their best of seven semi final at 2-2. This means a sixth game will be necessary and will be held at the Scarborough Recreation Centre Thursday night. This was the site of last years dramatic seventh game overtime win against Peterborough.

This was the most competitive game of the series to date. Very evenly played, with a slight edge to the Northmen, until Toronto ran off eight consecutive goals to blow it open. Magnificent lacrosse from the Beach Boys, whose resiliency is still to be marvelled.

Four goals exchanged early, thanks to long shots and suspect goaltending. Then the game settled into a tight checking, though very energetic affair. The home side broke the ice when Andy Rohmer set up Matt Holman inside. Orangeville came right back the next possession to tie it 3-3. With both teams a man short, the Northmen pulled their goalie and Nathan Sanderson scored from outside. Lindsay Sanderson's pulling his goalie did not always work on this night. The first mishap was a turnover which allowed Ashton McLean a long shot on the empty net. Scott Patterson came flying off his bench and managed to get his stick on the shot to save a goal. It was a two goal swing. Back came the black shirts with Sanderson connecting again. Toronto tied it after a Jack Chisholm timeout with 3 seconds left in the period. A beautiful cross floor pass from Kyle Wailes to Andy Rohmer and Rohmer beat Patterson before he could get across to cover.

Orangeville's defence ruled half of the second period. They inched ahead 5-4 then dealt the Beaches a big blow 9 minutes in as Jamie Dowdall scored shorthanded. He was set up by a nice Josh Agar pass. Power play goals did keep Toronto close as they fought back to 7-6. Then Garett Kikot beat Agar with a surprise shot to tie it. With 28 seconds left in the period Wailes gave the home team a lead they would never relinquish. 8-7 Beaches, after seeming to be in deep trouble down 7-5.

The opening quarter of the final period was a total disaster for Orangeville. Scott Patterson returned to goal as Lindsay Sanderson continued the odd routine of alternating periods with his goalies. It was a cold Patterson - 3 goals on four shots. But goaltending was not to blame, the collapse was a total team effort. Curiously, the worst thing to happen to the Northmen was coincidental minors. Awaiting a draw, Anthony Lackey rubbed Jonathan Durno's chin with his stick, then slashed him on the arm. Two minutes each, even though Durno did absolutely nothing. If only Lackey had received the lone penalty Orangeville might have escaped the disaster by giving up just one power play goal. Instead they played 3 on 3 lacrosse for nearly 2 minutes and Toronto KO'd them. When the dust settled it was 12-7 Beaches. The Northmen took advantage of their own 3 on 3 later in the period. With their goalie out they managed two quick goals. They then earned a power play but that would be their final undoing. Bobby McBride had been contained all night but he worked his way through two checkers to score shorthanded. Seconds later, Adam Robertson set up Matt Holman on a two on one and it was 15-9. That was all she wrote!

NOTES
Ashton McLean had the unluckiest night. Twice he was foiled on open net opportunities. Then he injured his knee off a draw. It looked to be an unfortunate fall - no one to blame. I'm afraid it reminded me of Peter Veltman's knee injury at the start of last year's playoffs. Let's hope Ashton is not so seriously injured.

Martin and King teamed up again and this time they stayed on top of nearly everything. Excellent job by both men. Of course we had to have a Gary Martin moment, with him spending 5 minutes with the scorekeeper sorting penalties out. Amusingly, when Martin was ready to restart the game Beaches goaltender John McLellan had disappeared! After a couple of minutes questioning the innocent looking Toronto coaches, plus searching under the bench and behind the water bottles, King made the Beaches field their backup. McLellan did bound back onto the floor seconds after play had commenced again.

Well, to be honest, when this began I thought Orangeville would take it in five games. I even chalked the Game Two loss up to overconfidence. Still, I remember how Beaches love to prove me wrong and though I said the Northmen in five, I also said that if it goes beyond five games Orangeville could be in big trouble. The logic was that the black shirts, based on their consistent play all year, would simply be too good for the disappointing Beach Boys. If they could not prove that superiority in five games then advantage would swing to Toronto and all it's experienced players. Now it gets interesting as the pressure is on the young Northmen for the first time. Of course if Beaches are to prevail they will not do it the easy way. Expect a seventh game double overtime win.

STATISTICS

Shots on goal
Orangeville: 16(1st) 16(2nd) 11(3rd) 43(total)
Toronto: 15(1st) 18(2nd) 13(3rd) 46(total)
*I missed the final 2 minutes to catch a Go Train. What was Jack Chisholm doing calling a timeout with 2 minutes left?

Power Play goals
Orangeville: none
Toronto: 4 - Wailes(2) Montour, Holman

Shorthanded goals
Orangeville: 1 - Dowdall
Toronto: 2 - McBride, Holman

Draws
Andy Rohmer: 14 won 11 lost
Darren Halls: 9 won 14 lost
Peter Veltman: 2 won 1 lost
Brad MacDonald: 1 won 0 lost
J.D. Smithson: 1 won 1 lost

Three Stars
1st- Matt Holman...Playing the best lacrosse of his career.
2nd- Kris Bryan...Orangeville's most reliable player the entire night.
3rd- Andy Rohmer...looked like McBride did in Game Two.
Honourable mention- J.D. Smithson, Jonathan Durno, Kyle Wailes & Darren