The Fighting Orangutans win their first NSSLL Championship since 2019 with an 11-10 double overtime victory over the Colby Pool Sharks, winning the best-of-5 series 3 games to 1
After 3 very even games where each team scored a total of 30 goals it only made sense that game 4 would be decided in overtime! The Sharks opened up a 4-2 lead after the 1st period, only to have the Orangutans storm back and lead 7-6 after 2 periods.
The teams traded 2 goals each in the third, with the O's having a 9-8 lead with 3 minutes to go before Ryan Morris of the Sharks scored with 2:42 left in the 3rd period to send the game into overtime.
The 1st overtime period was not sudden death and playoff MVP Mitch Broussard scored early for the Orangutans before Ryan Morris scored with 2:42 left in the 1st overtime to tie it again. The teams then played a second "sudden victory" overtime period where NSSLL rookie Glen Holmes scored his 5th goal of the game to give the Fighting Orangutans the victory and the 2023 Finck Cup.
Glen Holmes lead the Orangutan attack with 7 points (5G 2A). Former RIT and Hurricanes standout Luke Smeltzer had a hat trick, and playoff MVP Mitch Broussard had 4 pts (2G 2A) to finish the playoffs with 33 points (19G 14A) in just 7 games. Drew MacDonald scored the other goal for the O's and Cole Reschny got the win. The goalie tandem of Josh Udall and Cole were instrumental in the Orangutans championship run.
Ryan Morris and Andrew MacNeil each had 4 goals for the Sharks and John MacDonald had a strong game with 7 points (1G 6A). Ryan Fougere added the single and Brandon Deveaux was exceptional in keeping the Sharks in the game and the series.
The NSSLL Championship trophy is named after Wayne Finck, the Nova Scotia lacrosse legend who would have coached, mentored, taught or reffed almost every player on the floor.
Congrats to everyone on an excellent 2023 season!!
