By: Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday April 16, the Colorado Mammoth (10-6) headed to Saskatoon for the second game in two nights against their Western Division rivals the Saskatchewan Rush (12-4). The game almost did not occur due to the airport in Denver being closed Friday night because of impending severe weather. However, the Rush knew that if Colorado couldn’t get a flight out of Denver, the game would not happen so they chartered a private jet to fly both teams to Saskatoon. The Western Division title could be won with this game depending upon the outcome. This is the first season the Rush have played in Saskatoon and the stadium has been sold out for the last two games. The 15,027 fans got a real treat when their Rush defeated the Mammoth to take the West by the score of 11-5.
In the first three games between the two teams in 2016, it has come down to one great run in a quarter and this game was to be no different. The Rush defeated the Mammoth in their first meeting in the last five minutes of that game; the Mammoth defeated the Rush when they took a five goal run and held on in the second game; in the contest Friday night it was the Rush who would take control of the fourth defeating the Mammoth; and again in last nights game, it was the Rush who would take control of the third quarter to win the series 3-1.
The Rush would win the opening face-off, but the Mammoth would be the first to score at 4:59 on a nice fake top right from Mike Mallory. The Rush would strike back with three in a row the first coming from Curtis Knight upon his return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three games. He would score his 18th of the season (8:02) straight up the middle between the legs of Dillon Ward. Only five seconds later, Jeremy Thompson would score; followed by Ben McIntosh with a quick stick shot over the left shoulder top corner at 9:58 (assist Zack Greer and Dan Taylor). The Mammoth would close out the quarter with a goal from Jordan Gilles off a nice pass from Joey Cupido stick side at 3:10. Ilija Gajic would get his 600th loose ball with 3:30 left in the quarter. During the quarter both net minders would continue to come of the crease making some amazing saves. Colorado would control the loose balls in the first and the quarter would be penalty free. The Mammoth had stopped the Rush’s momentum in the first and were controlling the ball well. Score at the end of the first: Rush 3—Mammoth 2.
Heading into the second the Rush would again win the opening face-off but Chris Wardle would be the first to score for the Mammoth off a nice fake and pass by Callum Crawford who started the night with 29 goals and 68 assists. The Mammoth defense continued to stymie the Rush’s offense throughout the second. Bold tried several times to send a long pass down the field hoping to catch the Mammoth in transition, but it wasn’t working as the Mammoth were making quick changes. Jeremy Noble doing battle with Ryan Dilks would win the contest crossing over to the left side and hit net at 6:55 putting the Mammoth ahead 4-3. Colorado had great defensive formations not allowing the Rush to score. But Mark Matthews would break the tie using his stick to walk, wind up and fire at 10:29; followed by a nice wrap around goal from Robert Church off the rebound scoring at 12:19 to put the Rush ahead again. The lead had changed four times in the first 28 minutes of the game. But it would be Colorado’s Noble who would tie the game when he got space between a couple of Rush defenders to score with only 59 seconds left in the first half. The Mammoth attempted to score again for the lead when they pulled Ward with less than 15 seconds in the half for the extra attacker, however it was unsuccessful. The first half saw both teams play very disciplined ball. Score at the end of the first half: Mammoth 5—Rush 5.
The Rush were quick to break the tie in the third when Jarrett Davis would get his seventh of the season with a low shot past Ward coming from a loose ball pick-up by Matthews to Taylor to Davis only 1:23 into the period again giving them the lead. Then Crawford would get the loose ball for a nice shot (unassisted) past Bold at 2:29 for his 30th of the year putting him above the century mark (combined goals and assists) at 101. McIntosh would get his second of the game at 5:51 sending it between the wickets followed by yet another shot hip high on Ward at 8:02 giving him the hat-trick on the night. McIntosh’s goal at 5:51 would start the Rush on a five goal run. Next up Knight would get his second of the night (8:39) off the pass from Church to Greer to Knight. The Rush had scored four goals in four minutes. Greer would put up yet another at 9:11 (assist Church and McIntosh). It was then that the Mammoth would pull Ward in favor of Alex Buque in the hopes that it would throw the Rush off track, but it didn’t work as Knight would get his third of the night at 9:34 giving him the hat-trick. The Mammoth had been good in transition and defense, and the Rush’s five goal run was wearing on both teams. Josh Sullivan, defensemen for the Mammoth would block a shot for the second time of the night, this time off the knee with 3:10 left in the quarter and carried the ball down the field taking a shot on Bold who made a slide save, possibly his best save of the night. But Noble would come back with only 22 seconds remaining and buried a shot (assist Mallory) with the pick set top left corner giving him his first hat-trick of the season and breaking the Rush’s momentum. Score at the end of the third: Rush 11—Mammoth 7.
The Mammoth would win the face-off in the fourth but Matthews would get the ball on a break-away only to have Cupido track him down and get a piece of the ball saving a goal. Fatigue was beginning to set in on both sides as you could see some mistakes as well as both teams going up and down the field at a slower pace. Forty seven minutes had passed in the game and there still were no penalties. The Mammoth were making sure to give and get the defense down the field to not leave it wide open for the Rush’s offense. The first and only penalty of the night would come off a holding call on Jon Lintz at 9:04. It wasn’t until 11:07 had ticked off the clock before there would be a goal in the fourth. It was a spectacular behind-the-back pass from Noble to Mallory right as the power-play had wound down. The Mammoth would pull Ward with about three minutes remaining in the hopes that the extra attacker would give them the upper hand, but it was not to be. The Rush were controlling the ball well, and using the shot clock to kill off the last two minutes of play. Final Score: Rush 11—Mammoth 8.
With this victory, the Rush win their first Western Division title in Saskatoon, giving them home field advantage in the play-offs and the opportunity to bypass the first round (single elimination).
Game Stats: Colorado Mammoth: 44 SOG; 20 SOFF; 54 LB; 8-23 Face-offs; .348 FO%; 43-54 Saves; .796 SV%
Saskatchewan Rush: 54 SOG; 17 SOFF; 83 LB; 15-23 Face-offs; .652 FO%; 36-44 Saves; .818 SV%
The Mammoth (10-4) will head back home on Saturday April 23 to host the Toronto Rock (5-11) who were eliminated from the play-offs with their loss against Buffalo.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome