Isiah Moran-Weekes The Overtime Hero As Mimico Takes Game 1 Vs. Burlington
Matt Caruk (OJLL)
Professional chefs will tell you, if you overcrowd your oven, what’s inside will not cook as well. Those chefs obviously were not at Central Arena on Friday night for game one between the Burlington Blaze and Mimico Mountaineers. A full house split between home and away fans had plenty to cheer about all night, but following 3:42 of overtime lacrosse it was the fans in blue chanting ‘Let’s Go Mimico’ as their team left the floor up 1-0 in the series after winning 12-11.
An extended offensive set saw a Mimico shot go wide into the corner. The first one to it was Finn Thomson who was hit into the boards. While falling, he kept the play alive scooping it to a waiting Justin Lee up top. Lee’s shot went wide, but right to Lucas Dudemaine who flipped a pass to Isiah Moran-Weekes whose sidearm shot beat Deacan Knott to give Mimico the win.
Despite leading through the first half of the third period, the Blaze needed a late goal from Will MacLeod just to force overtime. With eight seconds to play, a shot from Braedon Saris hit off the foot of Mimico defender Owen Williams and out of play. Josh Rosa gave it back to Saris on the restart who cut through the middle. Rather than shooting, Saris flipped the pass to MacLeod and his outside shot picked a corner with 5.8 left in regulation.
Just 20 seconds before that, an errant Mimico shot bounced back to center. Dudemaine chased it down and passed to CJ Kirst who found Lee on the crease. Lee’s goal gave Mimico an 11-10 lead and capped a three-goal run. Prior to the run, a Burlington pass through the middle hit off Saris and into the net. At the time it gave Burlington a 10-8 lead.
The teams were tied 4-4 after the first and 7-7 after the second. Braedon Saris ended the night with four goals, including one on a penalty shot in the final minute of the second period. Alex Marinier also had four goals. The pair continue to lead the OJLL in playoff goals scored with 15 for Saris and 11 for Marinier. Saris also leads in points with 24 through 4 games.
Finn Thomson led Mimico with four goals, but it was Lucas Dudemaine who led in points with five (1 goal, 4 assists). Justin Lee (2 goals, 2 assists) and CJ Kirst (1 goal, 3 assists) also had four points.
If Game 1 was the series appetizer, the next course (Game 2) will be served inside a bowl – the Drummond Street Bowl that is, home of the Mountaineers on Sunday night at 7pm.
