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The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers are in a deep hole, down 3-0 to the Six Nations Chiefs in their best-of-seven MSL Final. The Lakers dropped Game 3 by a score of 9-4 Thursday night at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena.
Game 4 is Saturday at the Memorial Centre, with a rare 7 p.m. start. A win is essential if the Lakers want to stay alive in the series, and the team hopes to pack the building.
“We’re right up against it, plain and simple,” said team captain Robert Hope. “We have amazing fans. It’s a Saturday night in Peterborough, which is a rarity. I think the fans will show up and be rocking and we’re excited to play in front of them.”
The Chiefs struck early, with Dhane Smith scoring twice and Ian MacKay once. Joe Resetarits and Braedon Saris, on a power play, responded for the Lakers. Ryan Smith added a goal in transition to close the first period with the Chiefs ahead 4-2.
Six Nations dominated the second period, with Josh Byrne, Dawson Theede and MacKay scoring while Warren Hill held the Lakers off the board. Dhane Smith opened the third with his league-leading 24th playoff goal. Taite Cattoni and Brad McCulley scored for Peterborough, but Tyson Bell added a transition goal as the Lakers struggled to close the gap.
“I think the message [after this one] is ‘believe,’” said Hope. “We know what we have to do… Winning is tough. Anything in life, you have to work hard at it… We have to make small adjustments—bury a couple of looks, clean up some things on the back end, take away transition—and that’s what the formula is. If we do that, we’re going to be successful.”
Goalies Nick Rose and Warren Hill made 46 and 48 saves, respectively. The Lakers were missing Matt Gilray, on baby watch, and played with an extra defenceman with Carter Page out due to injury. Broedie Birkhof is nursing a lower-body injury, and Eric Shewell and Justin Sykes were scratched.
Tickets for Saturday’s 7 p.m. Game 4 are available at the Grant Thornton Box Office at the Memorial Centre.
Lakers scoring in Game 3:
Braedon Saris (1-1)
Taite Cattoni (1-1)
Joe Resetarits (1-0)
Brad McCulley (1-0)
Thomas Hoggarth (0-2)
Dustyn Birkhof (0-1)
Colton Armstrong (0-1)
Mitch Ogilvie (0-1)
Holden Cattoni (0-1)
