Lakers take a commanding 3-0 lead in MSL final

Clifford Skarstedt Jr./ Peterborough Examiner

The Six Nations Pro-Fit Chiefs are in all too familiar territory.
Thanks to a pair of losses on the road, including Sunday's 11-8 decision, the Peterborough Lakers now have a 4-0 lead in the best-of-seven Major Series Lacrosse final.
Last year in the MSL final, the Chiefs dug themselves a similar hole to beat the Lakers in seven games and go on to win the Mann Cup. For that to happen this time around, the Chiefs need to find an answer anytime the Lakers go on a run.
And in Game 3 Sunday, that run came in the third period.
With the Chiefs holding on to a 6-5 lead after 40 minutes, the Lakers got five-straight goals from Curtis Dickson, Brock Sorensen, Matt Gilray, Adam Jones and Turner Evans to grab a hold of the momentum.
Despite a pair of Chiefs goals from Dan Dawson and Kyle Jackson, Jones added an insurance marker late to seal the win.
The Chiefs again got off to a great start with Randy Staats and Jackson. But the Lakers replied with Jake Withers and Holden Cattoni.
In the second period, Staats scored a pair of goals, while Dhane Smith and Jackson gave the Chiefs a lead. Shawn Evans, Turner Evans and Jones answered back for the Lakers.
Evan Kirk earned the win for the Lakers making 37 saves, while Dillon Ward took the loss in a 44-save effort. Brandon Miller took over in the third period and made five stops.
On Thursday in Game 2, a four-goal run in the third period led to a 9-7 win over the Chiefs.
With the Chiefs holding a 7-5 lead after 40 minutes, Cattoni, Mark Steinhuis, Dickson and Zach Currier scored to vault the
Lakers to the win.
Prior to the comeback, the Chiefs looked poised to take Game 2 at the Peterborough Memorial Centre thanks to first-period markers from Jordan Durston, Vaughn Harris and Ryan Benesch. Withers and Cattoni had the only replies for the Lakers.
The Chiefs increased the lead in the second period thanks to Harris, Staats, Jackson and Dawson. The Lakers responded with goals from Cattoni, Dickson and Currier.
Ward was one of the busiest players on the floor in this game, making 52 saves, while Matt Vinc got the win in a 41-save effort.
The Chiefs hope to get back in the series Tuesday in Game 4 at the Iroquois Lacrosse Arena at 8 p.m.
OUT WEST
In the Western Lacrosse League final, the New Westminster Salmonbellies punched its ticket to hosting the Mann Cup, which begins September 9. The Salmonbellies defeated the Victoria Shamrocks 13-11 Sunday to take the WLA final 4-1 and win the Ted Fridge Trophy as the WLA Champion.

THE SERIES
-Game 1 Peterborough 10, Chiefs 7
Game 2 Peterborough 9, Chiefs 7
Game 3 Peterborough, Chiefs 8
Game 4 Tues Aug 29 at ILA, 8 p.m.
Game 5 Thurs Aug 31 in Peterborough, 8 p.m.
Game 6 Sun Sept 3 at ILA 8 p.m.
Game 7 Mon Sept 4 in Peterborough 8 p.m.