Brock edges Guelph to reach Baggataway Cup Final

Brock maintained its perfect season with a win over Guelph in the Baggataway Cup semifinals Saturday, but it wasn't easy. 

The game was tied 10 times, including 11-11, before the Badgers were finally able to take a lead to which the Gryphons couldn't respond when Connor Ham's shot went off the goalie's stick and dribbled across the line with 74 seconds to play. 

An empty net goal by Kurtis Woodland with 11 seconds left made the final score 13-11 in an excellent lacrosse game.

Six different players scored two goals each for Brock, including Cree Blakely who doubled his regular season output in this game alone. 

Alec Simons, Guelph's player of the game in the quarterfinal win over Trent after he scored five goals including the overtime winner and added two assists, led the Gryphons again with four goals and one helper. Michael Kavanagh added a hat trick.

Joshua Toguri was named Guelph's player of the game for the semifinal. He produced an outstanding defensive midfield performance, helping to at least limit the damge that Brock's explosive offence was able to do. 

Guelph, the third seed in the west, appeared to have an excellent chance to win late in the game, thanks largely to the stellar play of honourable mention All Canadian goalie Hayden Walsh. Those chances sunk considerably when Walsh had to leave the game briefly with an injury then eventually left for good. 

That put the pressure on backup Dennis Semenovych, who put in a valiant effort but wound up taking the loss when he didn't get quite enough of Ham's eventual game winner. 

Brandon Slade led the half dozen Brock two-goal scorers by adding a pair of assists. The Badgers took advantage of their depth at both ends of the field to pull out the win, their third of the season over the Gryphons. Now Brock will attempt to beat the Western Mustangs for the third time this year as well and in the process end a drought that has seen the Badgers go without winning a national championship since taking home their 18th in 2009.