By: Marcelo Alfonso Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
The Roughnecks set out front early in this Sunday afternoon game with a power play marker by Reilly O’Connor (#19) less than a minute into the game. A little better than half way through the first quarter Wesley Berg (#14) put one past Aaron Bold (#77) to give the Roughnecks a two goal lead. Tyler Digby (#23) has become a great fit into the Roughneck line up puts the team up 3-0. Saskatchewan’s Zack Greer (#88) put his Rush on the board just before the end of the first to put the score at 3-1 heading into the second.
Roughnecks continuing with their game plan in second quarter, Wesley Berg (#14) from Curtis Dickson (#17) 27 seconds to make their lead 4-1. Saskatchewan’s Mark Matthews (#42) scores a power play goal to cut the lead to 5-2. Tyler Digby (#23) scored his second of the game less than a minute after to regain the four goal lead. Roughnecks Karsen Leung (#21) scored a short-handed goal over powering his defender. Jeff Shattler (#77) puts one in to extend Calgary’s lead to 8-2. Rush add couple quick goals by Robert Church (#17) and Curtis Knight (#9) closing Saskatchewan to within four of the Roughnecks leading into the half.
The Rush put in their third straight goal as Curtis Knight (#9) pops his second of the game 38 seconds into the second half. Curtis Dickson (#17) answered back on a breakaway pass. Robert Church (#17) responded with a power play goal 2 minutes later to tighten Calgary’s lead to 9-6, John Lafontaine (#33) to bring the rush within two goals. Robert Church (#17) completed the hat-trick with five minutes left in the third. Calgary’s lead now 9-8 heading into the fourth quarter.
No love lost with these two rivals as the physicality increases. The Roughnecks power play goal as Tyler Digby (#23) scores his hat-trick goal. Jeremy Thompson (#74) and Curtis Knight (#9) reply for the Rush, scoring 13 seconds apart to tying the game at 10 with less than five minutes in the game. Mark Matthews (#42) gave the Rush an 11-10 lead. Calgary answered after a time out, 40 seconds later as Wesley Berg (#14) scored his third goal to tie the game with 1:30, sending the game into overtime.
With just over 10,000 fans on their feet the sound level in the dome was comparable to jet engine. Into overtime neither team was allowing much in the way of offense, Defense on both sides was tight. It was Zack Greer (#88) of the Rush who finally found the back of the net on what I could only call a lacrosse goal; Saskatchewan defeated the Roughnecks, 12-11 in the overtime final.
The leading scorers for Saskatchewan were Robert Church (#17) (3G, 3A); Curtis Knight (#9) (3G, 1A); and Mark Matthews (#42) (2G, 2A). Calgary saw the majority of their points come from Curtis Dickson (#17) (1G, 6A); Tyler Digby (#23) (3G, 3A); and Wesley Berg (#14) (3G, 2A).
Marcelo Alfonso Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome