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The Owen Sound North Stars were just over a minute away from earning their first Major Series Lacrosse league victory Saturday night, but a late equalizer and overtime goal ripped the chance away.
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James Whiteford completed a hat-trick with the overtime winner as the Brampton Excelsiors edged Owen Sound 10-9 inside the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre Saturday night.
Owen Sound is now 0-4 early in their first season back on the major lacrosse circuit, and the only winless team left on the MSL’s seven-team standings table.
The game was the first contest between the two teams with more off-the-floor battles in recent history.
Former Excelsiors owner Joe Norton tried to relocate the Excelsiors from Brampton to Owen Sound in 2020, setting off a yearslong saga featuring legal threats, executive infighting and leadership changeover at Major Series Lacrosse and the Ontario Lacrosse Association.
In the end, the Excelsiors remained in Brampton under a new ownership group and the North Stars, also under new ownership, joined the MSL this season as the league’s seventh franchise.
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The North Stars jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the first period with Tyler Brown opening the scoring just over a minute into the game. Will Cecile made it 2-0 before Jackson Reid netted a pair of goals in 27 seconds to make it 4-0.
The Excelsiors then went on an 8-1 run over the next 25 minutes of game time to pull away.
With Brampton up 8-6 in the third period, the North Stars netted three-straight goals scored by Johnathan Peshko, Cam Acchione and Matt Acchione to take a 9-8 lead with just 1:10 remaining.
Then, Josh Medeiros tied it up with 52 seconds left on the clock to send the game into overtime where Whiteford’s goal earned Brampton the win.
Whiteford’s hat-trick led the way from Brampton while Adam Wiedemann (2), Pent Eistrat (2), Jordan and Josh Medeiros, and Jeremy Searle all scored for Brampton.
Jackson Reid (2), Tyler Brown (2), Will Cecile, Matt and Cam Acchione, Johnathan Peshko and Steven Portelli scored for Owen Sound.
Kaleb Martin suffered the loss in the N’Stars net. Will Johnston earned the win for Brampton.
The Owen Sound North Stars are in Oakville to take on the Rock Monday night and are then off until June 22 when they’ll host the Peterborough Lakers at the Bayshore.
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