Photo Credit Featured Image: Paul Sasso
Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome
May 20, 2017 would determine the Eastern Division Champion. If Georgia could beat Toronto in the first game, and avoid the ever eventful mini third game, they would punch their ticket to the Finals. In every match up this season between these two teams, the away team left victorious, including the first game of this series last week when Georgia beat Toronto 11-8. Toronto was able to keep the high scoring Georgia offense from getting too far away, and they would strive to do it again. Brandon Miller would once again get the nod to start over Nick Rose in goal. Georgia would hold onto an early lead, and fight back a determined Toronto to win the second game and run away with the series. Final Score: Georgia 13—Toronto 9.
Georgia opened the game hot. Randy Staats (2G, 5A) scored on the very first possession, just 14 seconds in. The hustling Georgia players beat Toronto down the field after picking up the face-off loose ball in their defensive zone. On Toronto’s first attempt at an offensive possession, Georgia swarmed the ball and forced a turnover. Quickly switching and setting up, Miles Thompson (1G, 1A) would surprise Miller with a quick shot and put Georgia up 2-0. Kiel Matisz (1G, 1A) would make it a three-goal run under two minutes later on a bounce shot from high center around a defender. Less than three minutes into the game, Georgia held a three-goal lead. Toronto would finally score just over two minutes later as Reid Reinholdt (4G) beat goalie Mike Poulin over the right shoulder after coming around a screen. Less than a minute later they would make it a two-goal run as Brodie Merrill (1G, 2A) found the net in transition. As they have all season, Georgia had an answer. Toronto would have the extra man on the power play, but Lyle Thompson (2G, 4A) would put on his dancing shoes and spin. He easily beat Miller on his stick side. Under a minute later, with teams at even strength Bryan Cole (1G), the rookie from Maryland, caught a pass from the corner up high and picked his corner to put the score at 5-2. The goal would chase Brandon Miller, and Nick Rose would replace him in net. The goalie switch helped stop the pain a bit and over the last 4:50 of the quarter, Toronto would find the net twice, while holding Georgia to none. Stephan Leblanc (1G, 3A) would get the first and on the next possession, Reinholdt would get his second. The first quarter ended with Georgia leading Toronto 5-4.
Staats would score first in the second quarter as well, but this time it would take 5:25. His sidearm bounce shot would be his second of the game and put Georgia ahead 6-4. Jordan Hall (2G, 2A) would make that 7-4 on the next possession. Toronto would get one back with 5:09 remaining in the half. Kasey Biernes (1G, 1A) would catch a beautiful feed as he came through the middle to beat a moving Poulin. The two-goal deficit is the closest Toronto would get for the rest of the game. The two teams would go back and forth for the remainder of the half. Shayne Jackson (3G, 2A) would score with the extra attacker after a delayed penalty. Rose made the initial save, but the ball continued momentum to hit the net. Kieran McArdle (1G, 1A) would laser one past Poulin next, and Jackson would get the last goal. At halftime, Georgia led Toronto 9-6.
The third quarter would be uneventful. Both teams played hard, but to no avail. Reinholdt would score 23 seconds in on Toronto’s first possession, but neither defense would allow a goal for the next 12:33. And they played cleanly as neither team was called for a penalty. The score would remain 9-7, until Lyle Thompson scored his second of the night to regain the three-goal lead. The unassisted goal was beautiful. He gathered a high loose ball from high out of the air, spun around and fired a low bouncer around the crowd. The third quarter ended with Georgia still on top of Toronto, 10-7.
Toronto needed an outstanding fourth quarter to beat Georgia and force the mini game. Reinholdt would give fire to that hope with the first goal of the quarter to get back within two. His sidearm laser hit Poulin and the post to trickle in. But Georgia would quickly squash hopes of a comeback. Jackson would score on the power-play under a minute later, and almost five minutes of scoreless lacrosse later, Johnny Powless (1G, 1A) would push the lead to 12-8 with 4:41 remaining. Toronto would pull Rose for the extra attacker when given the opportunity, and Challen Rogers (1G) would capitalize with a goal. Hall would score the empty netter off of the ensuing face-off and Georgia would celebrate. Final Score: Georgia 13—Toronto 9.
UP NEXT:
Georgia will head into the championship series as the overall No. 1 Seed. They will face the defending 2016 NLL Champions the Saskatchewan Rush in the hopes of winning the first ever Champions Cup for Georgia.
First Game – 5:05 PM on Sunday, June 4 in Georgia.
Second Game – 9:30 PM on Saturday, June 10 in Saskatchewan.
Third Game (if needed) – 5:05 PM on Sunday, June 18 in Georgia.
The only season match up between these two teams was in Georgia on January 7 and Georgia won that game 18-10.
Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome