Birkhof’s Game-Winner Lifts Lakers to Even MSL Final Series
/By Scott Arnold
Dustyn Birkhof scored the biggest goal of his lacrosse career Thursday night, giving the Peterborough Century 21 Lakers a 9-8 win over the Six Nations Chiefs and tying the MSL final at one game apiece.
Peterborough native Dustyn Birkhof scored the game-winning goal on thursday night with 4:20 remaining in the third period as the Lakers defeated the Six Nations Chiefs 9-8 to even the MSL final at one game apiece (Photo by David Pickering)
Birkhof’s goal came with 4:20 remaining in the third period, breaking an 8-8 tie and sending the Memorial Centre crowd into a frenzy. For the Peterborough defender, the moment carried an added meaning.
Thursday marked the four-year anniversary of the death of his older brother, Steve Stapley, who passed away at the age of 32.
After scoring, Birkhof pointed toward the sky.
“Yeah, today’s my four-year anniversary since my oldest brother passed away, and that was for him,” an emotional Birkhof said after the game.
It was the first goal of the playoffs for Birkhof, who described it as the biggest goal he has ever scored.
“I don’t think so,” he said when asked if he had ever scored a bigger goal. “That’s probably as big as it gets here in our own barn against those guys at a big moment.”
The Lakers had some work to do before Birkhof’s late heroics.
Six Nations scored the first goal of the night and eventually built a 6-3 lead, but Peterborough responded with three goals in the final 6:22 of the first period to make it 6-4 after 20 minutes.
Rob Hellyer scored twice in the period, with Taite Cattoni and Colton Armitage also finding the net for Peterborough.
The Lakers pulled even early in the second when Braedon Saris scored his second of the game, and Saris put Peterborough ahead 7-6 on the power play with 16:17 gone in the period. Six Nations answered with goals from Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson before Hellyer scored his second of the night with 3:27 remaining, leaving the teams tied 8-8 heading into the third.
Peterborough shut the Chiefs out in the final 20 minutes.
Ryan Lanchbury put the Lakers ahead early in the third, and Birkhof followed with the eventual winner.
Nick Rose made 39 saves on 47 shots to earn the win, while Warren Hill stopped 39 of 48 shots for Six Nations.
Hellyer led the Lakers with two goals and three assists, while Saris had two goals and one assist. Lanchbury finished with a goal and two assists, and Hoggarth added three assists.
Jackson led the Chiefs with four goals and one assist.
The win evens the best-of-seven series at 1-1 and gives the Lakers a chance to take the lead on the road.
Game 3 is Sunday at 7pm at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena in Six Nations before shifting back to Peterborough for Game 4 on Tuesday night at 8pm.
Dustyn Birkhof was emotional in his postgame interview after scoring the game-winning goal in the Lakers 9-8 win over Six Nations (Video courtesy of YourTV)
