Trying to predict a winner in the Ontario Lacrosse Association East Conference best-of-5 semifinal series between the Halton Hills Bulldogs and the Green Gaels of Clarington would be a time-wasting exercise, as the first two games provided enough strange occurrences to wipe out any expectations.

After playing an ideal road game Saturday in Clarington to open the series, grabbing a 6-4 win, the Bulldogs were unable to put a stranglehold on the Green Gaels, who evened the matchup 1-1 with a 9-8 triumph at the Alcott Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Each team had lost just once at home during the regular season and the Bulldogs hadn’t scored a win on the Gaels’ turf in the ’Dogs’ 13-year history until shutting down the defending East Conference champs in game one.

Halton Hills took a 4-1 lead after the first period and even after the hosts rallied to tie, goals by Mike Burke and Pat Saunders sent the ’Dogs on a jubilant bus ride home.

Ryan Haynes, Matt Laidlaw, Saunders and Nic Grasby had given the visitors the early advantage.

After the quick turnaround, the Bulldogs looked to be just as determined and effective defensively in game two, holding a 3-2 lead near the midway point of the contest. But two shorthanded goals by Clarington less than a minute apart came thanks to some rare transition miscues by coach Blaine McCauley’s side, and the Gaels struck three more times early in the third period, which proved to be the difference in the outcome.

Burke, an 18-year-old forward from Caledon East, scored four times for Halton Hills on Sunday and nearly potted the equalizer with teammate goalie Mike Cregan on the bench for the extra attacker in the final minute of the third period, with the Gaels leading 9-8, setting the stage for a frantic finish.

Clarington earned possession of the ball with 17 seconds left on the clock and then decided to pull its netminder, Zack Higgins, to play keepaway and hopefully get a shot at the empty Bulldog goal.

A scoring attempt missed and a couple of Halton Hills players subsequently had shots just miss the target before time expired.  

“That was pretty close at the end. A few inches here or there and it could’ve gone into overtime,” said Burke, who has committed to attend Hofstra University at Long Island, N.Y. on a field lacrosse scholarship starting in September 2009.

“We had a great chance to tie six on five and I thought we did a pretty good job. We just didn’t capitalize. There were a few mental lapses during the game that hurt us and I thought we needed to move a little more on offence. If we do that and get out on top of them on their shots, then we can beat them. They’re a very talented team and we knew it wasn’t going to be a three-game sweep, especially after winning in their barn (Saturday) night.”

Also finding the net for the Bulldogs Sunday were Grasby, Saunders, Kody Lyons and Mike Brown.

Game three of the series will be played Thursday night in Clarington at 8 p.m., followed by game four at the Alcott Arena Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

If a fifth game is needed it will take place Monday in Clarington at 8 p.m.

Trying to knock off the Gaels may have become more difficult for the Bulldogs as four Clarington players who were attending the World Under-19 Field Lacrosse Championships in B.C. are expected back for game three.

“They’re going to have players coming back but it doesn’t matter who we play against, we’re going to carry out the same game plan,” added Burke. “It’s only a few players and they don’t make a team.
Hopefully we’ll be able to handle them.”

In the other OLA East Conference semifinal, the road team also prevailed in the first two games over the weekend between first-place Oakville and sixth-ranked Mimico.