By: Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday April 2, 2016, in front of 14,941 fans, the big green machine Saskatchewan Rush (10-3) continues its winning streak to six games and secures a home playoff game winning at home over the Calgary Roughnecks (6-9) Final Score: Rush—11, Roughnecks 9.
Starting goaltender for the Roughnecks Mike Poulin (#30) was spending time with his new baby boy. Filling in was back keeper Frankie Scigliano (#92) finishing the night with 37 saves. Making his first NLL appearance between the pipes early in the first period was rookie Christian Del Bianco.
Although the Roughnecks were first on the board with an unassisted goal by Dan Dobbie (2:15), the Rush would come back quickly with Mark Matthews (#42) along with Robert Church (#17) and Riley Loewen (#10) scoring on power plays. But the Riggers would answer back with Garrett McIntosh scoring (10:56) assist to Dan MacRae. Playing four on four, the Rush took a 4-2 lead as Ben McIntosh (#90) scores on a pass from Chris Corbeil (#16) on a 2 on one break in the opening quarter.
Roughnecks down 4-3 into the second, the Rush continue the pressure scoring three straight. Zack Greer (#88) putting it past Frankie Scigliano; Brett Mydske (#2) first of the season; and Mark Mathews (#42) rounding off the scoring now 7-3. The special teams play for the Rush went back to work late into the second as Church (#17) put in a bounce shot through Frankie’s legs. Before heading into the halftime break Ben McIntosh (#90) on a quick-stick play scores to make it 9-5 Rush.
Gathering their composure during the break Calgary took advantage of the two man-up situation, resulting in Curtis Dickson (#17) goal; and Dobbie (#44) followed with another power play goal, scoring his 50th goal of the season. Dickson surprised Aaron Bold (#77) with a low shot making it a 9-8 Rush game.
Calgary held the Rush from scoring for most of the fourth quarter until Adrian Sorichetti (#72) fed Mark Matthews (#42) at the edge of the crease making this his hat-trick goal Rush lead 10-8. Also marking his hat-trick Roughnecks Curtis Dickson made it a 10-9 game; however, it was not enough as the Rush held on and adding an empty netter from Jeff Cornwall (#13) ending this match in an 11-9 win for the Saskatchewan Rush.
Next up for the Rush (10-3), they head to the Mohegan Sun Arena on Friday April 8 to face the New England Black Wolves (7-5) and the Roughnecks will host the Vancouver Stealth (3-10) at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Sunday April 10.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome