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The Brampton Guardian
Lakers rally to sink Excelsiors
The Brampton Guardian
Tuesday August 19 2008
 
BRAMPTON - The Brampton Major Excelsiors had a chance to take an early stanglehold on its best-of-seven Eastern Canadian final on Sunday in Peterborough but let the two-time defending Canadian champions up off the mat.The Excelsiors, who claimed a 1-0 series lead with an 11-5 win at home last Thursday, held an 8-7 lead with less than four minutes remaining before the Lakers hit for a pair and a 9-8 win.The series resumes tonight at the Powerade Centre with game three scheduled for an 8 p.m. start.The winner of the series will host the Mann Cup, emblematic of Canadian senior lacrosse supremacy on Friday, Sept. 5.The win was the Lakers' first in five meetings with the Excelsiors this season. Brampton won two and tied another in league action before claiming game one of the playoff series.The Excelsiors, who have lost the past three Eastern Canadian finals to Peterborough seemed ready to grab the 2-0 sereies lead when Sandy Chapman found the net with help from Colin Doyle with 6:43 to play, but the Lakers are the defending Canadian champs for a reason.Scott Evans tied the score with 3:54 remaining and veteran John Grant gave the Lakers the much-needed win with exactly two minutes remaining.Brampton had jumped to an early 2-0 first period lead on goals by Jeff Shattler and Blaine Manning in the opening 84 seconds, but the Lakers scored the next three to take a 3-2 lead into the dressing room after 20 minutes.Pterborough upped the lead to 6-3 in the middle frame before the Excelsiors showed they can come from behind too. They scored the final three markers of the second frame to knot the affair at 6-6 heading to the third. Paul Dawson scored once in the rally while Aaron Wilson found the net twice. Josh Sanderson had the other Brampton marker.The Lakers regained the lead in the third before Doyle and Chapman replied, setting up the Lakers final comeback.Brodie Merrill picked up three assists in the losing effort for the Excels while Shattler had two to go with his goal. Wilson, Doyle, Josh Sanderson, Phil Sanderson and Dan Dawson chipped in singles.Game five of the series goes Saturday at the Powerade Centre, beginning at 7 p.m.