The Northmen defeated the Hamilton Bengals 6-5 to win their first Ontario Lacrosse Association game in three tries. Orangeville led 6-3 with nine minutes remaining, but the Bengals came charging back to make things interesting.

"It's always nice to get that first win," Northmen assistant coach Shane Bigler said following the game. "They worked hard. There was a bit of rough stuff and they showed up for it. We played well and squeaked it out at the end."

Orangeville managed the only goal of the first period, with Andrew Stoner, last year's leading scorer playing his first game of the season, notching the power play goal. The visitors increased their lead to 2-0 when Parmbir Sohal scored shorthanded 40 seconds into the second period. The teams exchanged goals to end the period, with Stoner adding two more and Cedar Jasiuk scoring one.

The Bengals ran into penalty trouble early in the final period, and Orangeville was rewarded with Jon Van Der Giessen's first junior goal to take a 6-3 lead. Orangeville goalie Curtis Rydall continued his strong play in the period, but Hamilton scored with 4:35 remaining and again with 27 seconds left to close within one. Northmen captain Trevor Van Alstine won the ensuing face-off, and Orangeville held on for their first win.

"We've been struggling putting the ball in the net," Bigler said. "We have to learn how to bury teams. You can't take any team in this league lightly anymore, everyone's too close. When we're ahead by a couple of goals we have to get another one or two, and that way they'll quit."

"We needed that after starting the season 0-2," Van Alstine said. "We need to start off quick and keep it going right into the playoffs.

"This is a good team. I think we've got a lot of talent, a lot of fast and big kids. I think it's one of the more talented teams I've played on in the last four years."

The Northmen, sponsored by MacMaster Pontiac, played Spartan last night (Monday). Results were unavailable at press time.