The Peterborough Timbermen evened their 2024 Arena Lacrosse League record at 2-2 with an 18-12 win over the Brampton Express on Friday night at Brampton’s Memorial Arena.
Captain Brine Rice led the team with a four-goal, five-assist effort.
“All the guys were just excited to get back together and get the new year going. We started off hot and never let them tie the game back up,” Rice said.
Jake Gasperetti kicked things off with a transition goal 3:11 into the game, though it was tied nine seconds later when Jordan Medeiros scored off the faceoff. But the Timbermen responded well, scoring the next five to lead 6-1 after the opening quarter.
Brampton got within a goal in the second quarter after a four-goal run, but Rice’s first of the game with 1:18 left in the half gave Peterborough a two-goal cushion heading into the second half.
Head coach and general manager Joe Sullivan said it was a great character win for the club, which only had one win all of last season. Only four games in and they have surpassed that mark.
“Any time you can get scoring from all your offensive players things are going to go well. We were composed all game long and our resilience paid dividends in the goals department,” Sullivan stated. “We were excited to get Austin Murphy into our lineup for the first time. His maturity and professionalism was noticed immediately. He and Aaron Woods and Brine Rice controlled the game each and every time they stepped on the floor.”
Murphy, the 2018 ALL MVP, was acquired via trade with Whitby prior to the season. In his rookie season, he put up 83 points in 14 games, but hasn’t played in the league since 2019. He had a goal and an assist in his Timbermen debut.
Jared Downey and Gasperetti scored on early power play goals in the third with Rice’s second making it a 10-5 lead. The Express scored a pair but Peterborough added two more before the quarter was out for a 12-7 lead.
It was an active fourth quarter with the teams combining for 11 goals and 16 penalties. Peterborough started with a three-goal run, which the Express followed with a four-goal run.
Sullivan was displeased with some perceived dirty play against two of his top forwards late in the game.
“Late in the fourth quarter Brampton tried to intimidate our club jumping Aaron Woods from the players box and taking liberties on Austin Murphy. Ugly to see those things happening but after the second altercation on Woods, (defender) Oran Horn stepped in and took care of business in a very professional way.”
Ethan Woods and Thomas Kiazyk each played half the game in goal.
Gage Board led the Express with a goal and seven assists while Jake McNabb scored three goals and two assists. Cole Martins took the loss in goal.
The Timbermen have one more road game, next Saturday, January 13 at 8 p.m. vs the Toronto Monarchs, before returning home to host Six Nations Snipers on Saturday, January 20 at 2 p.m. 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:
Brine Rice (4-5)
Jack MacAlpine (3-1)
Spencer Corkery (3-0)
Aaron Woods (2-3)
Jake Gasperetti (2-2)
Jared Downey (1-2)
Austin Murphy (1-1)
Colton McNutt (1-1)
Cameron Simpson (1-0)
Fred Hartley (0-6)
Cole Hanrahan (0-3)
Parker Sands (0-1)
Tommy Pollock (0-1)
Nick Bafia (0-1)
Oran Horn (0-1)
