LIAM MATTHEWS AND TREY DEERE COMBINE TO CONQUER MOUNTAINEERS IN OJLL FINALS REMATCH
Trey Deere scores one of three goals against Mimico. Deere and Liam Matthews combined for 14 points. (PHOTO: OJLL || D Fryer)
In a rematch of last year’s Ontario Junior Lacrosse League final, the Mimico Mountaineers travelled to Tony Rose Arena Tuesday night to face the Orangeville Northmen. Well ahead in the standings and having won the first meeting of the season, the Northmen were the better team and eventual 12-10 victors, but Mimico held in all night.
The travelling Mountaineers actually opened the scoring and took a two-goal lead thanks to Luke Reiter and Justin Tavares. But then the game became Liam Matthews’. He scored twice in 27 seconds, and then completed his hat trick moments later – part of a five-goal-in-4:35 run for the Hornheads spelling the end of the night for Mimico starting goaltender Nate Whittom (five goals from 10 shots in 10:02). Orangeville led 6-4 after one.
The second period started like the first with a great end-to-end individual effort from Mimico captain Aaron Toguri. Trey Deere scored back-to-back goals through the middle portion of the period, the first on a perfect Orangeville transition play. But Mimico responded with three straight to end the period tied at eight.
After the teams traded goals to open the third, Liam Matthews scored again – his fourth. Elijah Edwards added his third of the season and Dylan Sanderson would eventually ice the game with an empty netter giving the Northmen their league-leading eleventh win of the season 12-10.
It was another monster night for the combination of Liam Matthews and Trey Deere. Matthews (4/3) ended the night with seven points for the second consecutive game, and fifth time this season (in nine played). Deere (3/4) also had seven points for the second game in a row. Garrett Thomson stopped 40 of 50 shots to remain undefeated this season.
Mimico’s American-born players, Luke Reiter (2/5) and Colin Burns (2/5) also finished with seven points each – both are career highs. Justin Tavares led the way for the Mountaineers with eight (4/4), also a career best.
