Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On April 16, the Calgary Roughnecks take one on the chin as they lose to the Vancouver Stealth 13-12. A win was needed to secure a spot in the playoffs; The Riggers can clinch the final West Division playoff spot with one more Stealth loss or a win over the Toronto Rock during their final game of the season on Saturday, April 30 in Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Roughnecks opened the scoring in the first 30 seconds on their first shot from Jeff Shattler (#77). During a five minute Calgary power play, Tyler Digby (#23) scored back-to-back to give the Roughnecks a three goal lead. Nearing the twelve minute mark, Jordan Durston (#78) got the Stealth on the board on the power play, let go of a quick-stick to beat a sliding Mike Poulin (#30). Over two minutes later, Rhys Duch (#10) shot through the five hole of Poulin. Ending the first quarter of play, Calgary led 3-2.
To start off the second, the Stealth’s Logan Schuss (#18) less than two minutes in tied the game. After Poulin lost sight of the ball in the crease, a Calgary defender Peter McFeteridge (#80) attempted to trap the ball in the crease and instead caused them to give the Stealth a free goal. The Stealth continued to pour it on with Corey Small (#15) scoring their fourth straight nearing the half. On the initial save by Poulin, the rebound was found by Small (#15) in front of the crease and scooped in mid-air. With just over 10 minutes to play in the half, Shattler (#77) halted the Stealth scoring run and capped off the first half hat-trick with a breakaway goal to keep the game tied at four. During a coincidental minors four on four play, Wesley Berg (#14) got on the score sheet off a rebound and put his team back in front at 5-4. Shortly after, Shattler (#77) scored his fourth of the game on a transition play to make it 6-4 Roughnecks. Schuss (#18) would get his second goal of the half with a bouncer past the right foot of Poulin with less than six minutes left in the half; Vancouver’s Corey Small (#15) scored his second goal of the game. With the first half winding down, Digby (#23) found some room on Richards to give Calgary a one goal lead at 7-6. Vancouver’s Curtis Hodgson (#6) found a wide open Ian Hawksbee (#88) behind the Calgary defense and tied the game at seven.
To begin the second half, Jordan Durston (#78) put the Stealth in front at 8-7. Twenty-one seconds later, Rhys Duch (#10) would get his second with a five hole shot. Calgary responded with two straight from Jon Harnett (#33) and Digby (#23) to tie the game at nine with less than five minutes to play. Justin Salt (19) sprung Schuss (#18) in on a breakaway and recorded his hat-trick to regain the Stealth lead. With two minutes remaining, Calgary’s Curtis Dickson (#17) would score the final goal of the third quarter to even the score at ten.
During a Stealth five-minute power play early in the fourth quarter, Dickson (#17) scored a short-handed goal on a shot that surprised Richards to put his team up 11-10. It would be Cliff Smith (#5) answering back by scoring in transition to tie the game. Close to the end of the fourth, Durston (#78) put the Stealth ahead 12-11 on the power-play after out waiting Poulin near the crease. Smith would then receive a pass in transition and made no mistake between the pads of Poulin. With time winding down, the Roughnecks Digby (#23) would get the last goal of the game with six seconds left and drop the game 13-12.
The Roughnecks (7-10) have two weeks off to regroup and will host the Toronto Rock (5-11) on Saturday April 30, for their final game of the regular season at the Scotiabank Saddledome.
The Stealth (4-11) play host to the Western Division leaders the Saskatchewan Rush (12-4) on Saturday April 23.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome