Chiefs stun Lakers 8-7 in battle for first place

There was no Curtis Dickson, left, on hand for Peterborough. But this picture
from last year's MSL finals does show last night's game winning scorer. Dan
Coates got the winner as Six Nations prevailed 8-7. (Photo: Tim Prothero)

Oh, the vagaries of lacrosse. So much can change in a minute. Or in this case, a minute and 23 seconds.

The Peterborough Lakers travelled to Six Nations Tuesday night to face the Chiefs in a game that would see the winner leapfrog the Brooklin Redmen into first place and the loser slip into a tie with the Oakville Rock for third. Or, in the case of a tie, we would have seen a three-way logjam for first place among Peterborough, Six Nations and Brooklin.

Scoring was at a premium through two periods. The teams exchanged single goals in the first and a pair each in the second before Cody Jamieson's third of the game put Six Nations up 4-3 a couple of minutes into the third period.

The Lakers appeared to take control, though, when Holden Cattoni scored twice to complete his first MSL hat trick as part of a 4-goal Peterborough run before the midway point of the period to go ahead 7-4.


Then, the dam burst and the Chiefs poured four goals past Matt Vinc. It started with at 11:29. Less than a minute later, Johnny Powless pulled Six Nations within one.

That seemed quick, until the ensuing faceoff. Jordan Durston scored 24 seconds later. Then that seemed quick until the ensuing faceoff.

Jay Thorimbert won the draw to Dan Coates, who beat Vinc to make it 8-7 Six Nations just 1:23 after they had been trailing by three goals.

And as quickly as it had begun, the scoring spree ended. Neither team could connect the rest of the way. The Chiefs had moved into first place and the Lakers had let slip away a chance for a huge road win at the ILA.

Given how close the standings are--the top four teams all bunched within two points--and how competitive the league is this season, every game takes on added importance.

Both teams are back in action in short order. Six Nations travels to Brooklin, where they will try to solidify their hold on first place, Wednesday. Peterborough tries to get back in the win column when they play host to Cobourg Thursday night in the first edition of the new Highway 7 rivalry.