The Peterborough Century 21 Lakers took a 3-1 series lead, beating the Brooklin Lacrosse Club 12-8 at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre on Sunday.
Peterborough gained an early lead in the first period thanks to a pair of Thomas Hoggarth goals to make it 2-1. Brooklin rung off three straight goals but the Lakers kept it close as Taite Cattoni with just over eight minutes left in the period to make it 4-3 into the second.
The three-time defending Mann Cup champions put their foot on the gas, ringing off seven goals in the second period while containing Brooklin offense to two. Hoggarth had scored four goals for Peterborough as they had a 10-6 lead into the third.
Both teams kept tight defensively, allowing only two goals apiece in the third but it allowed the Lakers to earn a 12-8 win and a 3-1 series lead.
Game 5 is at the Peterborough Memorial Centre at 8:00 p.m. on Monday. Peterborough can advance to the Mann Cup final with a win.
Major Series Lacrosse (MSL) is hearing an appeal from Brooklin regarding overturning game two’s result on Monday. The incident concerns a Brooklin coach on the team’s bench during a suspension period that the league ruled a forfeit despite beating the Lakers 12-10 last Tuesday.