Green Gaels series against Barrie extended

BARRIE -- A shaky second period cost the Clarington Green Gaels a chance to take a stranglehold on their playoff series with the Barrie Tornado.

After jumping out to a 3-1 first period lead during Monday's game in Barrie, the Green Gaels were outscored 6-1 in the middle period en route to a 10-6 loss in Game 2 of their OLA Jr. B Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. The win by Barrie evened the best-of-five series at a game apiece, with Game 3 played last night (after our deadline) in Bowmanville. Game 4 goes Saturday in Barrie, with a fifth and deciding game, if needed, in Bowmanville on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Shayne Jackson and Mike McCusker fired a pair of goals each for the Green Gaels in Monday's loss. Singles were chipped in by Alex Henderson and Lucas Perri in the tame affair, which saw 14 penalty minutes dished out to Barrie and just 12 to the Green Gaels.

Zach Higgins went the distance in goal for the Green Gaels.

The Green Gaels will continue to be without the services of Zack Palmer, John Lafontaine and Adrian Sorichetti, who are in British Columbia with Canada's U19 field lacrosse team that is competing at the World Championships. Captain Eric Sorichetti is also away at the tournament in support of his brother. It will be well into the second round, if the Green Gaels make it that far, before the players will return to the club.

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