Lock Monsters 2-0 after Opening Weekend

The Niagara Lock Monsters capped off a double header weekend with a second straight win on Sunday. After topping the Barrie Blizzard 16-8 on Saturday afternoon, they showed no signs of fatigue defeating the Durham Turfdogs 14- 4.

Andrew Potter led the Lock Monsters on offence with a 6 point performance with two goals and four assists. Meanwhile, between the pipes, Connor Danko shut out the Turfdogs throughout the entire third quarter and allowed only a single goal in the fourth sealing the Niagara victory.

The first quarter opened up with back-to-back goals from Niagara, with one from rookie Tyler Carvalho and the other from Andrew Potter. Durham’s Dylan Goddard would get one by Danko to end the first with a score of 2-1.
Into the second, the Turfdogs would put in a pair of goals, scored by Nick Diachenko and Goddard to take the lead for the first time. Niagara would answer with a goal of their own by Sean Gillies, which would end the first half all tied up at 3.

The Niagara Lock Monster’s would take the lead back just 33 seconds into the second half with a goal from Captain Brad Favero. Favero’s goal was the first of nine for Niagara in the third quarter alone. Danko had a flawless third quarter for the second straight game as Durham was unable to capitalize on anything throughout the quarter.

The Turfdogs would end their drought in the fourth with a goal from Scott Defrancesco. But, Niagara would counter with goals by Jordan Daradick and Andy Tober. Defrancesco alongside Dylan Goddard led all Turdogs with two points each in the game.

Box Score available at canadianlacrosse.com
Week 2 sees Durham host the Barrie Blizzard on Saturday, February 8 at 2 p.m. at the GM Centre. That evening, the Ohsweken Demons open the season against the SouthWest Cyclops at Iroquois Lacrosse Areana beginning at 8 p.m. On Sunday, February 9, Niagara travels to Barrie to take on the Blizzard at 2 p.m. at the Barrie Molson Centre. 

Niagara Comes Back to Win Home Opener

The Niagara Lock Monsters kicked off their season with an 16-8 win over the Barrie Blizzard in a Saturday afternoon match up at Seymour Hannah Arena.

In the first quarter, the Blizzard would take control by scoring the opening goal as Geoff McNulty found the back of the net, assisted by Caleb Wiles and Spencer Janes.  It would take Niagara almost ten minutes to get on the board as Corey Fowler took off to put one in unassisted and tie the game at 1.  Barely 20 seconds later, the Blizzard answered Fowler’s goal to start a three goal streak.  Jon Arnold of the Lock Monster’s would toss in a pair of goals to end the first with Barrie leading 4-3.

Barrie opened the scoring in the second quarter with a quick goal by Tyler Gibbons.  From there, Niagara would go on a solid goal streak that would stretch from the second quarter and into the third. The streak would include a hat trick from Andrew Potter; two of the three goals from Potter would come on penalty shots.

Throughout the third quarter, frustrations began to come out from both sides with Barrie unable to capitalize on their power play opportunities.  Niagara shut out Barrie in the third quarter and led 14-5 going into the final frame.

In the fourth, Barrie’s Tyler Gibbons found the back of the net and put an end to the streak for Niagara. Niagara’s Travis Gibbons would put in his second of the game to answer, and later added third to seal a hat trick.  In the end, three goals in the fourth quarter wasn’t enough for Barrie to come back and Niagara went on to a 16-8 victory.

Box Score available here

Niagara’s next game comes today at 2 p.m. as they take on the Durham Turfdogs at Seymour Hannah Arena.