Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
The game Sunday between the visiting Colorado Mammoth (5-4) and the host New England Black Wolves (3-6) was a one-sided tilt. Colorado took the lead in the first quarter and held it for the remainder of the game, only allowing New England to get within one once. Penalties really hurt the Black Wolves, as Colorado was perfect on the power play, scoring on all four of their chances. New England was down two key offensive players, and lost Shawn Evans in the third. It really showed in the final score. Colorado 14—New England 9.
The scoring opened 3:06 into the first quarter as Colorado’s Zach Herreweyers (2G, 1A) jumped into the crease and put the ball behind Evan Kirk. New England would get the next good chance on a two-minute power play 6:15 in, but could not capitalize. Callum Crawford (2G, 3A) would score next for Colorado to extend the lead to two. New England would finally get on the board 13:10 in. Joel Coyle (1G, 1A) would score his first NLL goal, in his first NLL game action on a beautiful transition two on one. The excitement was short-lived. Ryan Hotaling would be called for holding one minute later, and only 12 seconds in, Chris Wardle (2G, 2A) would score the power play goal to put Colorado back up two. The score at the end of the first quarter would be Colorado 3—New England 1.
The second quarter was all Colorado. They would score three straight goals to open the quarter and all within the first 2:11. Stephen Keough (2G, 1A); Joey Cupido (2G); and Jacob Ruest (1G) all found net. All the goals looked easy, and every look seemed to be going in for the visitors. New England would finally score over six minutes later. 
The power play goal from Kyle Buchanan (1G, 1A) was amazing. From behind the net on an extended possession, he faked Colorado goalie Dillon Ward one way and did his best Superman reaching around to score. Colorado would only let the building erupt for a minute. Taylor Stuart (1G) would score his first NLL goal unassisted as he picked a pass on the defensive side. With 2:24 seconds left in the half, Kevin Buchanan (1G, 1A) would ease the suffering a little bit with a much-needed goal. At this point, disaster struck. Shawn Evans (1A) fell with the ball and no one in the vicinity. He would get up and limp to the bench, immediately head to the locker room and would not return. Without Chad Culp (IR – First Level); Pat Saunders (healthy scratch); and Shawn Evans on the floor, the Black Wolves would have to prepare for the second half without three of their top six leaders in points this season. Halftime score: Colorado 7—New England 3.
Colorado would open the third quarter exactly how they opened the previous two. This run of goals would be two and would give them a six-goal lead. Herreweyers would score first, and then Keough. Both goals would be…well…easy. New England would respond by pulling Kirk just 3:53 into the half. Kirk saw 28 shots and allowed nine goals in his time of play, which is uncharacteristic of last year’s Goalie of the Year. 
The rookie Doug Jamieson would replace him. The change worked for a bit. New England would score two in a row. The first was newcomer Daryl Veltman (1G) on the power play, and Reilly O’Connor (2G, 3A) the second just a minute and a half later. They cut the lead to 9-5 just about halfway through the third quarter. Crawford would score a power play goal, easily beating Jamieson glove side high, and Ilija Gajic (1G, 1A) would net another less than a minute later to extend the Colorado lead back to six. New England would close the quarter on another two-goal run. The first was a long outlet pass from Jamieson to rookie Seth Oakes (2G); and the second was a classic Kevin Crowley (1G, 2A) bully move. At the end of the third, Colorado 11—New England 7.
Going into the fourth quarter with a four-goal lead, Colorado looked comfortable in taking their time each offensive possession. New England would strike first though. Oakes would find the back of the net to extend the Black Wolves run to three goals. Less than a minute later though, Eli McLaughlin (1G, 5A) would answer for Colorado as the ball quickly worked its way up the field after a Black Wolves possession. Wardle would score his second on another power play goal to extend the Colorado lead to five goals with 6:41 left in the game. O’Connor would score again for the Black Wolves; Kyle Buchanan would miss a penalty shot; and Joey Cupido would put the icing on the cake with an empty netter to bring us to the final horn. Final score: Colorado 14—New England 9.
Next Up:
New England travels to Toronto to face the Rock (5-3) on Friday, March 3 at 7:30 PM.
Colorado hosts the Calgary Roughnecks (3-5) on Friday, March 3 at 9:30 PM.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome