By: Marcelo A. Sagüez, NLL Correspondent
In what resembled a playoff game, the Toronto Rock beat the Vancouver Stealth 9-6 in Sunday afternoon Lacrosse action. Vancouver (3-6) visiting the Toronto Rock (2-7) in their first meeting in the 2016 NLL season. Vancouver was looking for their first win in three games, while Toronto was looking to redeem themselves after losing 15-10 to Calgary Friday night.
Toronto held the Stealth scoreless on a five on three, the Rock get on the board at the 10:06 mark of the first quarter on a power play goal by Brett Hickey (#11). Further into the quarter Rob Hellyer (#10) put the Rock up 2-0 on a power play. Not lacking scoring opportunities the Stealth were held scoreless in the first by Rock net-minder Nick Rose (#66).
Stealth offense open their scoring with Rhys Duch (#10) with a diving shot over the left shoulder of Nick Rose making the score 2-1. Under a minute later tying the game Corey Small (#15) assisted by Garrett Billings (#13). This tie would not last long as Toronto’s Hickey (#11) with 2:05 remaining in the first half would hit net.
Brock Sorensen (#3) scores to opens the third quarter with 1:04 elapsing off the clock. Colin Doyle (#7) gets it by Richards (#00) with a bounce shot to the stick side. The keepers at each end played with passion and exciting the fans with their efforts, no goals were scored for almost ten minutes. It was only a matter of time that the score would be broken by either team, Small (#15) scores on a Stealth power play. Toronto at the end of the third led the Vancouver 6-4.
A quick start to the fourth quarter as Hellyer (#10) scores his hat-trick with a two man power play. The scoreboard now reads Toronto 7—Vancouver 4. Billings (#13) scoring a highlight reel goal by going behind the back. Billings added another on the man advantage, sneaking the ball through the legs of Toronto’s goalie Rose (#66). This would end the scoring for Vancouver in regulation time. Rock’s Brett Hickey (#11) and Brodie Merrill (#37) would score back to back goals, one of which being an empty netter putting the game out of reach for the Stealth 9-6.
Nick Rose (#66) and Tyler Richards (#00) were the story of this game, Rose stopped 46 of 52 shots by the Stealth while at the other end Richards turned away 37 of 45 shots.
Vancouver takes on the Saskatchewan Rush Saturday March 19 at the Langley Event Centre at 7 p.m.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, NLL Correspondent
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