Rock score last three goals to edge Kodiaks 7-6 Sunday evening

Nick Rose, here against Peterborough, allowed only six goals
as the Rock edged KW 7-6 Sunday. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

The Oakville Rock scored three goals in the final 4:21 to pull out a 7-6 win over the Kitchener-Waterloo Kodiaks in the first half of a home and home series with huge implications in the Major Series Lacrosse playoff race. Mike Mawdsley and Stephan Leblanc scored to tie the game up then Rob Hellyer connected for the winner in the final minute of play. Leblanc (2g goals, 1 assist) and Hellyer (1g, 2a) were the game's leading scorers. Mike Melnychenko scored his first two goals for the  Kodiaks in his second game with the team after coming over from Brooklin in a deadline trade.

The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period then KW outscored the Rock 5-3 in the second period to take a 6-4 lead into the third. Nick Rose shut the door on the Kodiaks in the third, allowing his Oakville teammates to pull out the win, which pulls the Rock within a game of KW for fourth place and the final playoff spot. Another Oakville win in tonight's game at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre would move the teams into a tie, while a KW win in the rematch would put them back to two games ahead. If the Rock win and Brampton can beat Peterborough for their third straight win, there would be a three-way tie at 5-8 for the fourth spot.

You can watch tonight's game in Oakville live via JVI Video webcast. Just click on the Webcast Sports link in the right hand column of this web site. The broadcast starts at about 7:55.