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The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers completed a stunning comeback to win their Major Series Lacrosse semifinal series against the Brooklin Lacrosse Club with an 8-7 overtime victory Thursday night at the Memorial Centre. The Lakers were down three games to two in the series and faced a 7-3 deficit in the third period before rallying for the win.
Mike Robinson sent the crowd of 2,859 fans to their feet with 2:56 remaining in overtime, picking up a low pass from Joe Resetarits and firing an underhand shot into the top corner past Zach Higgins.
“It was kind of a scramble play, it feels like that’s normally how it ends in these types of games,” said Robinson on the winning goal. “I think Rezzy was looking inside to maybe [Carter Page], and the ball just squirted out to me up top and I just kinda let it go as quick as I could. Didn’t really pick a spot or anything and lucky enough it went in.”
Defender Jake Withers highlighted the evenly matched nature of the series. “Two really evenly matched teams that made each other work for every loose ball and win,” he said. “It was nice to see what we were made of when it came down to it and win game seven in front of these awesome fans.”
The Lakers trailed 5-2 after 40 minutes, and the deficit grew to 7-3 before the comeback began. Robinson and Holden Cattoni scored less than a minute apart to cut the gap to two. Colton Armstrong connected with Withers for his first goal since May 31, bringing the team within one. An illegal equipment penalty on Higgins with 1:15 remaining gave the Lakers a power-play opportunity, and Holden Cattoni tied the game 7-7 just 15 seconds in.
“It was kinda reminiscent of our Mann Cup runs a few years ago and even when I was a kid,” said Withers on the crowd support. “It helps a lot. We have the best home floor advantage in the league by far so to have them behind us to help fuel that comeback, it paid dividends in overtime when Mikey scored that one.”
Nick Rose made 38 saves on 45 shots before Drew Hutchison stopped three in overtime to secure the win.
For Brooklin, Connor Kearnan led the scoreboard with four points, while Jacob Hickey and Sean Westley each had three. Higgins finished with 51 shots, showing why he was last season’s League MVP.
“Credit those guys, an unbelievable series and unbelievable game, especially Higgy playing the way he did,” said Robinson. “It was tough to beat him and luckily we were able to rally something in the third period.”
The MSL Finals open Sunday in Six Nations at 7 p.m., with Game 2 back at the Memorial Centre on Tuesday. Ticket bundles go on sale Monday at the box office.
Scoring for the Lakers:
Holden Cattoni (2-4)
Mike Robinson (2-3)
Braedon Saris (1-3)
Justin Sykes (1-0)
Taite Cattoni (1-0)
Colton Armstrong (1-0)
Thomas Hoggarth (0-2)
Jake Withers (0-2)
Joe Resetarits (0-1)
Robert Hope (0-1)
