By: Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday April 30, it was fan appreciation night at the Saddledome with over fifteen thousand on hand to witness an end to end battle that led the Calgary Roughnecks in a dramatic 18 – 17 overtime win over the Toronto Rock (5-13) closing out the 2016 regular season (8-10). With the win, they clinched a play-off berth against the Colorado Mammoth next weekend on May 7 in Denver.
Five minutes into the contest Toronto found themselves down 3-1 as Calgary set the pressure early. It took the Roughnecks forty seconds on a power-play to score in the second quarter; in turn Toronto went on a scoring run leading into the half time.
Goalies Mike Poulin (#30) and Frankie Scigliano (#92) saw time between the pipes for the Roughnecks. After one quarter of play were tied at four, heading into the half-time break Toronto had managed an 8-6 lead.
It was all Calgary in the third outscoring the Rock 7-2, however, Calgary was outdone in the fourth as Toronto outscored the Roughnecks 7-4 bringing it to a tie at the end of regulation play.
Tension was high not only on the floor, but in the stands as the largest crowd this season at the ‘Dome witnessed Wesley Berg (#14) bounce a shot though Toronto’s Nick Rose (#66) legs to end the game 18-17 in favor of the Roughnecks.
Toronto’s goal summary: Rob Hellyer (7g, 6a); Turner Evans (4g, 5a); Kasey Beirnes (3g, 4a); Jesse Gamble (1g, 1a); and Dan Lintner (1g, 1a)
Calgary’s Goal summary: Wesley Berg (6g, 1a); Curtis Dickson (4g, 3a); Jeff Shattler (4g, 3a); Tyler Digby (1g, 3a); Karsen Leung (1g, 3a); Garrett McIntosh (1g); and Peter McFetridge (1g)
Next weekend’s play-off contest will be exciting as Colorado defeated the Roughnecks two out of three during the regular season. Both teams will be playing hard in an effort to advance to the next round of the play-offs.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome