Jeff Gard/Today’s Northumberland
The Cobourg Kodiaks are headed to the Major Series Lacrosse playoffs after rallying for a 7-5 victory over the host Owen Sound North Stars in the regular-season finale Saturday night.
The win secured the final postseason berth for the Kodiaks, who finished the 18-game regular season with a 10-8 record. Cobourg ended the year tied with the Brooklin Lacrosse Club but claimed the playoff spot by virtue of the league’s tiebreaker. Owen Sound concluded its season at 1-17.
Despite dressing a shorthanded lineup, the Kodiaks overcame early deficits to punch their ticket to the playoffs. Cobourg trailed 2-1 after the opening period and fell behind 3-1 in the second before battling back to even the score by the end of the middle frame.
The visitors then seized control in the third period, scoring four consecutive goals to pull away and escape with the required victory.
Port Hope’s Brock Haley led the decisive third-period surge with a pair of goals, while Jeremi Phoenix and Aaron Woods also found the back of the net. Woods finished with two goals after also scoring in the middle frame while Will White added Cobourg’s other second-period marker.
Major Series Lacrosse’s newly crowned Jim Murphy Most Valuable Player Alex Marinier opened the scoring for the Kodiaks in the first period. Marinier capped the regular season with 51 goals and 92 points.
Kodiaks rookie Aaron Toguri, who recorded an assist Saturday, was recently named the recipient of the Gene Dopp Rookie of the Year Award. He was selected third overall in this year’s MSL Draft.
The Kodiaks now face a daunting first-round assignment against the Six Nations Chiefs in the best-of-five semifinal series. Six Nations lost just one game during the regular season.
The Chiefs released the semifinal schedule Sunday morning, though game times weren’t included.
Game 1, hosted by the Chiefs, is scheduled for Tuesday night in Hagersville before the series shifts to Port Hope for Game 2 on Thursday at the Jack Burger Sports Complex.
The Kodiaks move their home playoff games to Port Hope because ice has returned to the Bowl Arena at the Cobourg Community Centre.
Six Nations will host Game 3 on Friday night. If necessary, Game 4 is slated for next Sunday in Port Hope, with a fifth and deciding game scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 11, in Six Nations.
