PETERBOROUGH, ON (June 5, 2023) — The Toronto Beaches’ late-game comeback came up just short, as they dropped a 10-9 final to the Peterborough Lakers at Peterborough Memorial Centre on Monday night.
Peterborough started the game strong, scoring three straight in the first 10 minutes of play. Tom Collins had a pair off the hop and Reece Dicicco got on the board to make it an early 3-0 hole for the Beach.
A four-goal run from the visitors swung the momentum, with Greg Palmer and Peyton Booth scoring before Matt Collison got two straight to take the lead. But with the goalie pulled to end the period, the Lakers tied the game up with a second left off a rebound goal from Nate Sage.
Knotted at 4-4 heading into the second, Peterborough took control in the second period. Daniel Clark put the hosts back ahead, and Collins completed the hat trick shortly after. A Willem Firth marker got the Beaches back within one, but Zack Thompson pushed the game to 7-5 through 40 minutes.
Clark and Ben Trumble made it 9-5 early in the third, but Toronto made a big run at the end of the game. Collison went back-to-back to get his third and fourth goals of the night, and Jeremi Phoenix-Lefebvre added a transition goal off an ensuing face-off to make it 9-8. Palmer tied things up with 1:55 to go, with his long-range shot finding its way home.
Toronto pushed for a go-ahead marker, but Peterborough was the one to find it in the closing minute. Collins potted his fourth of the night with 39 seconds left in regulation to seal the victory for the Lakers.
Now sitting at 3-4 for the year, the Beaches will look to bounce back with three more games this week. They will return home to face the St. Catharines on Jun 8 before a weekend road doubleheader against Mimico and Brampton.