The Peterborough Timbermen got their first Arena Lacrosse League win of the season on Saturday, defeating the Oshawa Outlaws 15-12 at Children’s Arena. It evens the Timbermen’s record at 1-1.
2022 ALL MVP Aaron Woods returned to the lineup after playing last season in the now-defunct PBLA. Woods is currently on the practice roster for the NLL’s Halifax Thunderbirds. He immediately contributed with three goals and four assists to lead the Timbermen.
Also making his Timbermen debut was Teioshontathe McComber, who played four games last season for the Georgia Swarm. He scored twice including a shorthanded goal that stopped a run of five first quarter Oshawa goals.
Jacob Gasperetti scored the game’s opening goal just 19 seconds in, starting the Timbermen off strong. However, Oshawa then went on their five-goal run, that included two off of faceoffs and two on transition breaks.
Head coach Joe Sullivan wisely used his timeout to settle the team down, and it worked.
“We started slow, but had introduced a few players into the group and that always takes time to get the chemistry right,” Sullivan said. “Up front, Teio McComber played his first game and scored two highlight-reel goals while also digging out 11 loose balls. In net, Thomas Kiazyk was solid. There were a few in the first six minutes that we left him by himself on, breakaway type situations. A great take away was how quickly we regained our composure and got our feet beneath us with solid defensive play. Forced turnovers were the start of our turnaround and then the offence took over like we haven’t seen in years. It was a great game early in the season.”
After McComber stopped the run, Oshawa scored again on a power play opportunity, but the Timbermen finished the first quarter with goals from Cole Hanrahan and a second from Gasperetti to make the score much more respectable at 6-4.
By halftime, the tables had turned and the Timbermen led 11-8, outscoring the Outlaws 7-2 in the second quarter. Woods scored a hat trick in the period, McComber scored his second, and Fred Hartley, Brine Rice and Parker Sands contributed a goal each.
Oshawa got within a goal early in the third, but Hanrahan’s second goal helped the Timbermen pull away again. Oshawa got within a goal again, but Jared Downey replied. Two power play goals to start the fourth quarter put the game out of reach and gave the Timbermen their first victory of the season.
The Timbermen are back home for a pre-Christmas matinee this Saturday, December 23 at 2 p.m. to host the Whitby Steelhawks. Tickets will be sold at the door of Millbrook Arena. Adults are $10, kids ages 5-14 are $5 and kids under 5 are FREE.
TIMBERMEN SCORING:
Aaron Woods (3-4)
Jared Downey (2-4)
Jake Gasperetti (2-3)
Cole Hanrahan (2-0)
Teioshontathe McComber (2-0)
Brine Rice (1-5)
Parker Sands (1-1)
Dylan Goddard (1-1)
Fred Hartley (1-1)
Justin Bragg (0-1)
Nik Bafia (0-1)
Spencer Corkery (0-1)
Sam Trumble (0-1)
Ryan Patterson (0-1)
