Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
Family day in Calgary and the Toronto Rock (4-1) headed to Scotiabank Saddledome to play the Roughnecks (3-3) in a rare matinee game. Toronto came in on a winning path and wanted to keep the momentum going. They did just that defeating the Roughnecks 11-7 in Calgary.
The appeal of the suspension to the Roughnecks Greg Harnett (33) has been upheld and will sit for five games for the shoulder to shoulder collision with Jeremy Noble of the Colorado Mammoth. Filling the gap on the bench will be Bob Snider (41). The atmosphere in the Calgary was not the same as in past games, the intensity was lacking not only from the fans but the Roughnecks themselves.
The opening faceoff led the Roughnecks on the attack without a shot and a much slower pace. Working on the turnover the Rock come back to show their hand with Tom Schreiber (26) alone in front of the net only to have Frankie Scigliano (92) take it away top shelf. On a high sticking Calgary penalty Toronto went to work on the power play and quickly made the man down pay twenty seconds in with a low shot to the stick side of Scigliano from the point giving the opening goal to Tom Schreiber (26) of Rock four minutes into the quarter. A solid Toronto defense kept the Roughnecks from firing any quality shots, and Nick Rose (66) between the pipes looked comfortable and confident.
Calgary using trickery to spark the slow pace sent Scigliano (92) to the bench for the extra attacker seven minutes in. On a long pass by Toronto’s keeper to Bill Hostrawser (82) was crushed by a waiting Roughneck Dan MacRae (3) as he caught the ball. On the same possession Calgary attacked the ball carrier with multiple players resulting in a five minute penalty to Roughnecks Garrett McIntosh (6) for the high stick twelve minutes in. Using the clock the Rock moved the ball quickly to create an opening in the ‘D’ but Scigliano stood tall for the Roughies effectively keeping the Rock from scoring for most of the five minutes. Off a Toronto turnover in the Roughneck zone, Dickson on the line change took the floor on a break only to be tackled by Damon Edwards (45) without a penalty on the takedown. 
At the stoppage in play the Rock would be hit with a penalty for the slash, putting both teams four on four.
Tying the score Curtis Dickson (17) wired a shot from the point over Rose’s (66) shoulder. The rock had effectively used the breaking man to beat the Calgary defense. Ending the quarter shots are in favour of the Rock 10-9.
The Toronto defense was frustrating the Roughneck attack forcing long shots. The offense was having difficulty not only scoring but managing the shot clock. Schreiber (26) beat Chad Cummings (25) on the crease dive to put the Rock up 2-1 four minutes into the second quarter. The ball seemed to have a Toronto bounce as Kieran McArdle (6) sent a bounce shot to the stick side of Scigliano (92) for the score, 3-1 Rock. Moments later at the top of the crease Dickson (17) made no mistake to get it by Rose to keep this game close 3-2 with eight minutes remaining in the half.
Toronto on the power-play took the floor as Calgary was hit with a holding the stick penalty. Scigliano stood solid stopping multiple attempts by the Rock. Unfortunately, only so many shots can be denied by a goalie as Brett Hickey (11) found an opening to put it behind Scigliano for the goal 4-2 Rock.
Calgary’s frustration continued as shots continued to miss their mark. Schreiber (26) took advantage of the screen to beat Scigliano (92) increasing the lead 5-2. Riley Loewen (89) alone in front of the crease would score, and quickly Rose (66) wanted the challenge. No goal was confirmed by the referee on replay review. The score remained 5-3 Toronto. McArdle made a run off the Calgary defender to beat Scigliano over the glove shoulder increasing the lead 6-2 as the half ran out.
At this point in the game, very little seemed to be working for the Roughnecks; the long breakaway pass from Scigliano to Dane Dobbie (44) from the bench is unable to score; and on the play the Rock took a penalty by tripping Dobbie preventing the goal.
The Roughnecks troubles continue into the second half. Latrell Harris (93) netted a one handed goal on a two-on-one. Then with a delayed penalty to the Roughnecks, Turner Evans (15) took a pass to put it in the net with a quick stick increasing the lead to 8-2 Rock.
Dobbie (44) squeezed through the Toronto ‘D’ and scored on a low stick side shot 8-3 Toronto. The ball still continued to bounce in favour of the Rock putting a bouncer between the legs of Scigliano by Brett Hickey (11) putting them ahead 9-3 late in the third quarter.
Calgary was 0-3 on the power-play for the night with the Rock ‘D’ not giving any room in the defensive zone. Wesley Berg (14) found the back of the net with just over a minute remaining in the third quarter 9-4 Toronto. Calgary led the face-offs thirteen of sixteen; and shots on goal were close 16-15 in favour of the Rock.
Very Early in the fourth Leblanc (17) snuck a long shot by Scigliano resulting in a goalie change. Christian Del Bianco (35) took the net and demonstrated that he was there to play, coming in and out of the crease. Roughnecks Tyler Digby (23) had a hard game and couldn’t capitalize on any of his ball possessions.
Del Bianco’s (35) saves were definitely a game changer. His aggressive style gave the Necks a much needed boost. Dickson (17) with eight minutes remaining scored a sick goal from the top of the crease to add momentum
to the Roughnecks play 10-5 Roughnecks Down. With his fourth of the night and six minutes, Dickson with a long sidearm shot from the point started a comeback for the Roughnecks 10-6 Rock. Dickson’s fifth goal on a corkscrew shot from the top of the crease, inched them closer with five minutes to play in regulation time 10-7 Rock.
With the clock winding down in the game Toronto was content on controlling the clock letting time run out. Holden Cattoni (19) lasered a shot over the shoulder of Rose resulting in a stoppage in play as the referee wanted to review for the possible goal, which confirmed no goal.
Toronto possession and Calgary’s keeper on the bench for the extra attacker, Curtis Dickson attempted to play net as Toronto’s Hostrawser (91) scored over Dickson’s shoulder to secure the 11-7 victory over the Roughnecks. Final Score: Toronto 11—Calgary 7.
Next up for the Roughnecks (3-3), they host the Vancouver Stealth (2-5) head to the Scotiabank to on Saturday February 18, 2017.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome