By: Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Friday night, the Colorado Mammoth (12-6) hosted their Western Division rivals, the Vancouver Stealth (5-12) for their final game of the regular season at the loudest house in lacrosse, the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. The Mammoth surpassed their season high in attendance for 2016 with 15,622 hopeful fans; as well as ending the season with eight wins at home, setting a new record. The fans were prepped and ready to see their team close out the season with a win, and the Mammoth did just that with a fourth quarter surge to stomp out any chance for the Stealth to make the play-offs. Final Score: Colorado 11—Vancouver 10.
The first would start out slowly, but would finally open up at 7:32 off a power-play shot from Vancouver’s Rhys Duch (5G, 4A). The Mammoth would quickly fire back with a nice feed from John Grant, Jr., to Mike Mallory (1G, 1A) over the shoulder top right on another power-play goal at 8:31. Logan Schuss (1G, 4A), forward for the Stealth would be the next to score at 11:39 (assist Duch, Garrett Billings). Jeremy Noble (2G) would net the final goal on a power-play with only two seconds remaining in the period to tie the game. Shots on goal were even at the end of the first with 10 apiece. Score 2-2.
Heading into the second, the Stealth would score quickly off another power-play goal from Duch only 56 seconds in; followed by Corey Small (4G, 2A) at 6:07. That’s when Grant Jr. (3G, 3A) would make history by breaking the record set by Brian Langtry for most goals scored by a player in a Mammoth jersey (231). 
Grant, Jr. would get a nice feed from Callum Crawford and score right side with a bouncer between the legs of Tyler Richards at 6:28. But Duch would answer back at 7:45 for the hat-trick (assist Justin Salt). Then Mammoth Team Captain Dan Coates (1G, 1A) would follow up nine seconds later (unassisted) on the face-off to bring the Mammoth to within one. For close to six minutes neither team would score as the defense on both sides stood tight, with Richards and Ward staving off shot after shot. Mammoth forward Jeremy Noble would put it between the pipes for his second on the night, another power-play goal at 13:03; and Eli McLaughlin (2G) would score the final goal of the first half at 13:22 (assist Grant, Jr. and Crawford). The Stealth had once again topped the Mammoth in shots on goal 14-12. Score at the end of two: Colorado 6—Vancouver 5.
The third would begin with the Stealth scoring at 4:02 off a power-play goal with a bounce shot lower right corner by Small (assist Duch, Billings). Ilija Gajic defensemen for the Mammoth would intercept a pass and on the breakaway, score unassisted at 4:45. This would give him the NLL lead in goals by a defender with eight on the year. Another eight minutes would run of the clock before the next point would go up on the board. Duch would net his fourth of the game at 11:30; followed by Small at 13:24 for the hat-trick, putting the Stealth up by one. Again they would lead with shots on goal 16-14. Score at the end of the third: Vancouver 8—Colorado 7.
The Stealth wanted the win and it showed when Duch would get his fifth of the game only 35 seconds in. But the Mammoth were bound and determined to close out the regular season with the victory. They were quick on transition and would go on a four-goal run with back-to-back goals from Grant, Jr. (3:10 and 5:34) giving him the hat-trick on the night (assist on both Crawford). Jordan Gilles (1G, 1A) would net his only goal of the game at 6:44 matching his total on one of Crawford’s eight assists. McLaughlin would put the Mammoth up by two at 7:49 (assist Crawford, Coates). With the hopes of a possible play-off spot still in the minds of the Stealth, they would pull Richards with less than two minutes and go with the extra attacker. It paid off with Small hitting net at 13:31 (assist Billings and Joel McCready) pulling them to within one. The Stealth desperately tried to tie the game with only a minute and a half remaining, but Ward was spectacular in net almost as if he was a brick wall and not allowing the Stealth to tie the game. This would be the only quarter the Mammoth would lead in shots on goal 13-10 and it would be enough as they would knock the Stealth out of the play-off picture. Final Score: Colorado 11—Vancouver 10.
Game Notes:
- John Grant, Jr., would break the Mammoth all-time scoring record with his 231st goal and another two to put him at 233 for his career in a Mammoth jersey.
- Callum Crawford chalked up four assists in the first half and four straight assists in the fourth tying the NLL single-season record at 83, number one in the league; and third in points at 115.
- Dillon Ward was 43-53 putting him at .800 for the season; number one in the league; and a career best.
- Ilija Gajic took the lead with goals by a defender with eight on the year.
The Mammoth are on a roll winning their last three to close out the regular season 12-6. This momentum will be key when they host the Calgary Roughnecks (7-10) at home on Saturday May 7 for the Western Division Semi-Finals.
During the 2016 season, the Mammoth have defeated the Roughnecks two out of three. It will all come down to net-minding; quickness in transition; focus; and determination as to who will head to the next round of the play-offs.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome