By: Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
Saturday night’s game between the Colorado Mammoth (10-3) and the New England Black Wolves (7-5) felt like a play-off game. The 3,554 in attendance at Mohegan Sun Arena witnessed two of the top teams in the NLL battle back and forth for a great 60 minutes of lacrosse. Goals were not easy to come by in settled offense, and both teams looked to capitalize on their opponents mistakes to provide opportunity. Colorado came out with a few more plays, and once again beat New England. To make matters even worse for New England, Colorado did it without starting goalie Dillon Ward; forwards John Grant Jr. and Jeremy Noble; and defenseman Greg Downing. Final Score: Colorado–12, New England–10.
The first quarter did not start well for the home New England Black Wolves. Just a minute in, their transition defense let Eli McLaughlin (3G, 1A) streak untouched down the middle of the field for a goal off of a laser assist from Robert Hope (2A). It sucked the wind out of the crowd. New England would answer though. Shawn Evans (4G) was slow to get up after trying to beast his way into the front of the net. Usually this isn’t good, but Colorado turned the ball over just after getting into the offensive zone. Evy quickly recovered and received a pass from Zac Reid (1A). After a few dodgy fakes, he put the ball past Mammoth goalie Alex Buque (38SV, 10GA). Pat Saunders (2G) would break the tie on a power play goal four minutes later. Defenses would hold strong, with long possessions and forced outside shots at the end of the shot clock, but four minutes later sloppy passing would lead to the Mammoth tying the game. An ill-advised behind the back cross field pass was easily picked off by Cam Holding (2G, 1A). He kept the ball on the ensuing three-on-one to score Colorado’s second of the game. Colorado would go up 4-2 by the end of the quarter, with two goals coming in the last minute of play. Callum Crawford’s (5G, 4A) was an acrobatic jump into the crease with just 46 seconds left. The goal was challenged but eventually upheld.
Spirits for New England were not high going into the second quarter down 4-2, but Evans quickly got the Black Wolves back to within one scoring just 30 seconds in. Not to be outdone, Crawford would put Colorado back up two on the next possession. Off the face off, and just 13 seconds later, Kyle Buchanan (1G, 2A) would score to make the score 5-4. From there, defense would hold strong forcing turnovers and a few shot clock violations from both sides. Eight minutes of a tense one goal game seemed like an eternity. Mike Mallory (1G, 1A) would break the long scoring drought to give the Mammoth a two goal cushion. Evy would provide some much needed energy with a big effort goal to cut the deficit back to one. He ran back onto the field, after going towards the bench to change, and picked up a loose ball in front of the Mammoth goal. His acrobatic finish ended with him jumping and standing on top of the bottom boards getting the home crowd fired up. This back and forth affair wouldn’t stop. McLaughlin would get the lead back to two with just 29 seconds remaining, but Kevin Crowley (1G, 2A) would cut the lead back down to one with just 3.6 seconds remaining in the half and the extra attacker.
To keep the pinball game going, Crawford would open up the second half with a goal just 17 seconds in as he spun around defender Bill O’Brien. Evy would answer with his fourth and final of the game, unassisted 3:23 into the third. At 7:30 into the third quarter, the ever rare side circle face off would occur. While fighting for a loose ball, a side door would open to the gasp of the crowd. This was a not so casual side effect of both teams getting a little chippy. New England would seem to have a better control of the game as they stopped the trading pattern, to string together two more to make it three in a row. With only 2:41 left in the third New England had the lead 9-8. Colorado was having none of it and quickly answered to even the score 9-9 going into the fourth.
The stage was set – two powerful teams in the NLL this year leaving it all up to the fourth quarter. McLaughlin would put the Mammoth up one, 10-9 but less than 30 seconds later Andrew Suitor (1G) would quick stick a cross crease pass to even the score again. Crawford really showed his grit, and 5:10 seconds in was standing in front of goalie Evan Kirk (42SV, 12GA) as he tried to clear. The ball was thrown directly into his outstretched stick and he successfully faked out Kirk to put the Mammoth back up one. He also scored the next and last goal of the game to give the Mammoth the win 12-10.
NOTES:
Colorado secured no less than the second seed in the West with the win, guaranteeing a home playoff game. They are also the first team to ten wins in 2016.
Next up for the Black Wolves (7-4) comes the double-header weekend. They start off on April 8 hosting the Saskatchewan Rush (10-3) and head straight out to Toronto to face the Rock (4-9) at the Air Canada Centre. The Mammoth (10-3) head to Georgia to face the Swarm (4-9) at the Infinite Energy Arena.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome