Game two of the Can-AM Championship series was played in Niagara at the Leisureplex in Fort Erie, but the result was the same as game 1, Onondaga with a win. With the Win the Redhawks will represent the Can-Am league in the Presidents cup to begin August 16th in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The game started with both teams trying to find the flow. Onondaga scored first after a few minutes to open the gates. Much like the first, the game was fast, up and down lacrosse with solid tough defense, quality goal tending and good offensive ball movement, but the Redhawks were able to capitalize more often than the hometown Hawks. The visiting Redhawks slowly chipped away at the defense, with 4 different players scoring the first 5 goals of the game. The offense moved the ball very well, and a tough punishing defense made it very difficult for Niagara to create quality opportunities on a hot goaltender in Ross Bucktooth. With only a few minutes left in the first period, the Redhawks found themselves up 5-0 before Niagara finally was able to put one past Ross to close out the first period scoring.
The second period started much like the second period of game 1 as the Redhawks would find themselves in a battle. The Niagara hawks scored on their first possession, and then again a few possessions later to make the game 5-3. From that point the penalties and infractions began to fly in, as in game 1. The result was an opportunity for the Niagara team to make the game a much tighter contest. The Redhawks were able to score on 2 man-up occasions closing out the period with a narrow 7-6 lead.
The final period was furious. Both teams struggled for an edge on the other, but it seemed as though the Onondaga players had a bit more gas left in the tank, and were able to score the first goal of the period. Niagara promptly answered back but was unable to hold off the Onondaga offense. Last period heroics were created by one amazing flurry in which Ross saw 4 shots in about 5 seconds, 3 of which, his saves came while he was sprawled out on his knees. Just moments later, Wade Bucktooth scored the eventual game winning goal on a man-up opportunity. A 3-on3 situation brought on by more penalties would give Brett bucktooth the chance to seal the win with a fantastic 1-on-1 effort for a goal. The final buzzer would end the game with the same score as the first, with the same team on top, 9-7 Onondaga.
Onondaga will face the host team Burnaby team in the Presidents Cup Monday, August 16th.
Photos below by Mike Greenlar plus more photos of Can-Am Championship.
