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Anthony Cosmo made 30 saves to help the Brampton Excelsiors win Game 3 and take a 2-1 series lead. (Photo: Dan Brodie)

The Brampton Excelsiors got a huge lift in game two when Dan Dawson, Anthony Cosmo and Bill Greer flew in on game day and immediately had an impact in the 2011 Mann Cup. Last night, more troops arrived as both Mike Hominuk and Chris Corbeil made their debut in the National Championship to make the Ontario champs’ roster complete. This was what the B.C. champs wanted and after a poor effort in the final two periods of Game 2, they knew they would have to come out and compete for a full 60 minutes. In most games, playing 53 minutes is enough. But not tonight. The Excels exploded for four straight goals to open Game 3 and all signs pointed to a blowout before they hung on for an 8-7 win and a 2-1 series lead.

Langley Thunder goalie Brodie MacDonald wasn’t his sharpest as he allowed four goals on eight shots and was quickly pulled by coach Rod Jensen in favor of Joe Bell. This isn’t anything new for Bell as he had been called in for relief duty in both the WLA semifinals and finals when MacDonald was called for illegal equipment. Often times we’ve seen teams give their starting goalie a quick reprieve then be sent right back in but not on this night. Bell went the distance for the Thunder and was fantastic, making 26 saves on 30 shots.

Goals by Frank Resetarits, John McClure, Dawson and Hominuk in a 2:12 second span silenced the home town crowd but there was still plenty of lacrosse to play. As Dawson and Cosmo did a game before, the insertion of Bell seemed to calm the Thunder down and they started to play to the level that allowed them to win the western title. Their defense tightened, they started to run the floor and most importantly, got inside on Cosmo. Kyle Belton sniped a low to high shot through a screen then Brett Mydske scored a short-handed 2-on-1 goal to cut the lead in half as the two teams went to the break.

However, the break didn’t slow the Thunder and when you need a big goal it never hurts to get if from your heart and soul captain. Matt Leveque’s goal 52 seconds in brought the crowd to its feet and when Pat Saunders tied the score 19 seconds later the crowd erupted and the momentum had completely shifted. But they weren’t done there. Kerry Susheski continued to spark his club with big goals and gave Langley its first lead since Game 1. When Athan Ianucci put the Thunder up by two, you could sense the confidence from the home bench overflowing but when you’re facing a team as potent as the Excelsiors, you can never give them a window of opportunity.

Back-to-back power play goals by Kevin Ross and Dawson, who would be the Excels’ player of the game, tied the score heading into the intermission and lacrosse fans were in for a fantastic finish. The track meet of transition lacrosse that fans saw in the second period slowed a little as both teams fortified themselves not to mention that Cosmo and Bell were matching each other save for save.

Ianucci gave Langley the lead five minutes into the final frame as it seemed as if the dramatic comeback could be complete but some pregame foresight from Jensen came true. “One of the things I said before the game was, ‘the one guy I don’t want to give that shot to is him,” and with a well-placed shot off the far post, the man they call Dangerous Dan Dawson lived up to his name, tying the score and setting us up for an intense final ten minutes.

Unfortunately for Langley, a tripping penalty on Steve Hay sent Brampton to the power play and Zack Greer made them pay with what would be the winner. The Thunder had a few last minute chances but were unable to get that last one past Cosmo, making the final 8-7 and giving Brampton a 2-1 series lead heading into tomorrow night’s game four.

“You have to give full credit to Joe Bell, ‘cause he was dynamite tonight,” said Brampton Excelsiors assistant coach Dan Teat, who noted that his team stopped moving its feet and was trying to do too much.  “I could look at my O guys and they would know they need to be better. When they play with confidence and their sticks are flying (we’ll) be ok.”

Bell, who was named player of the game for Langley, impressed everyone with his efforts and while the Brampton coaches wouldn’t be surprised to see him get the start in Game 4, the Thunder coaches were very hush-hush in regards to who would start.

In what was the most exciting game so far in the 102^nd Mann Cup, both teams left it all on the floor and played a very high-paced, intense matchup and it only looks to increase as this series winds on. The big question many are now asking is who will be available for Brampton as this series extends into next week, as those that missed the first few games would only naturally have to head back for work. Not so fast, as according to team president Ziggy Musial, who said “everyone is staying.”

Catch game four tomorrow night live from the Langley Events Centre at 7:45 or online via www.theboxrocks.com.

A few side notes

In just two games, Dan Dawson has three goals and seven assists to lead the tournament with 10 points and passed John Cervi for 26^th all-time in Mann Cup points.

BCJALL 2011 MVP Reegan Comeault of the Langley Jr. Thunder made his Mann Cup debut tonight and was impressive considering he still has TWO years of Jr. A lacrosse left in him.

Paul Gait made an appearance at the Mann Cup and was interviewed by Jake Elliot in the intermission and gave his thoughts on the game, the growth, conversion of field players to box and vice versa but also noted that the one thing that’s wrong with the game today is “the size of the goalies.”

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