Mariners With The Helm

Game 3 of the Best of 5 Lake City Cup Finals took place Tuesday night. The series tied at one game apiece, the Secunda Mariners took full control of the game and the series with a 6 to 4 win over the Sandtrap Chiefs.

The Mariners built up a 3 to 0 lead, on goals by Dana Drake, assisted by Shawn Doyle at 16:51 mark, and two goals by Dean Tucker at 11:29 and 8:31 mark of the 1st period, both goals were helped by Rick Findley and Derek Taylor. The Chiefs managed to get on the board before the period ended, on Brian McIntoch's 4th goal of the playoffs, Trevor Doyle and Roddy MacCormick assisting.
The Mariners owned the period, with good puck control, passing and several scoring opportunities. Chiefs goaltender Jason White kept the score reasonable.

The 2nd period started out with the Mariners regaining their 3 goal lead only 37 seconds in. Shawn Doyle finding the net assisted by Keifer House and Dana Drake. Sandtrap's captain Darryl Braine cut the score in half at 15:06, assists going to Shane Gibbs and Kelly Saunders. Secunda followed that up with Keifer House's 8th goal of the playoffs, Doyle and Drake chipping in with their 2nd assist of the game, giving them a 5 to 3 lead.
The Chiefs responded once again at 8:37 on a goal by Mark Walsh, MacCormick and McIntoch helping out. Through out the game, the Chiefs could narrow the score to 2 goals but no more.
Dana Drake's 6th of the post season and 2nd of the game with only 2:43 left in regulation time, put the Mariners up by 3 again. Shawn Doyle added his 3rd assist of the game along with Keifer House's 19 point of the playoffs. The Chiefs would finish off the scoring on Craig Whynot's 2nd of the playoffs, assisted by MacCormick and McIntoch, with only 55 seconds remaining.

Secunda Mariners controlled the helm and are now one game away from clinching their second Lake City Cup. As for the Sandtrap Chiefs, they will need to play their best game of the season next Tuesday, to force a 5th and deciding game.