By: Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
On Saturday March 19, the Vancouver Stealth (3-8) could not get back to winning ways dropping their fourth straight game. Five games out of the top spot in the west, they need to turn things around quickly. On the positive side, they were able to put in more than 10 goals. The last time they did that was their last win on February 20, 2016 at home against the Calgary Roughnecks. On the other side of the field, the Saskatchewan Rush (7-3) kept pace with the Colorado Mammoth and notched their third straight victory. Colorado sits at 8-3 atop the west division, and only separated by a half game from the recently hot Rush. Final Score: Saskatchewan—24 ,Vancouver—16.
The defending champion Rush set the tone early for this high scoring affair notching three unanswered goals in the first 2:23 of game time. Vancouver would answer with two goals within a minute to get within one., 3:54 into the game and already five goals. The end of the first quarter would have the Rush up 7-6 on the home Stealth. The seven goals for the Rush would come from five different scorers, as they shared the wealth. Joel McCready (5G, 3A) was a human highlight real for the Stealth with four first quarter goals, one coming on a power play. The last two of those brought the home crowd back in the game, cutting a three goal deficit to just one.
It was déjà vu for Saskatchewan opening up the second quarter with three goals, from three different scorers, in just 2:21. The first of the quarter was the third goal for Robert Church (3G, 3A) and came on the power play carried over from Justin Salt’s (1G) slashing penalty at the end of the first quarter. Vancouver hoped a change in net minder would help, as they pulled Tyler Richards (10GA, 18SV) for Eric Penney. It would seem a good decision for the remainder of the half, as the Rush and Stealth would each score four goals.
Down 14-10 going into the third, Vancouver was gasping for a spark. Corey Small (2G, 6A) would start them off hitting the back of the net just a minute in. Zack Greer (5G, 6A) would put the Rush back up four with a goal as an extra attacker was on the field. Vancouver would then rattle off four unanswered goals to tie the game at 15. After Joel McCready’s fifth of the game, and the second of the four goal run, the Rush felt a change in goal tender would help the defense. Aaron Bold (13GA, 18SV) was replaced by Tyler Carson between the pipes. Zack Greer would score last in the third with a shorthanded goal, putting the Rush back on top 16-15 going into the fourth.
The fourth quarter was all Saskatchewan. They came out scoring 7 unanswered goals in the first 7:19. The defense held strong and net minder Tyler Carson was allowing no way into the back of the net. The show of offensive fire power was truly a sight of beauty. Much like in the first, five different Rush players scored the seven goals. With the game near out of reach, Rhys Duch (6G, 5A) would complete his sock trick with 1:55 remaining to try and bring the home team back. It would not work, as Zack Greer would put in the last goal of the game less than a minute later, putting the Rush back up 24-16, and bringing the game to an end.
NEXT UP:
The Vancouver Stealth visit the Buffalo Bandits on Friday, March 25. The teams already met once this season, in Vancouver with a final score of Buffalo– 13, Vancouver– 8.
The Saskatchewan Rush visit the Toronto Rock on Friday, March 25. This is their first and only meeting of the season.
Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome