JJ Seaward, Beat Writer Saskatchewan Rush
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Saskatchewan Rush (5-2) would continue to build their winning streak at home in front of a sold out crowd of 15,047 at the Sasktel Centre, as they narrowly defeated the Colorado Mammoth (4-4) with a final score of 8-7.
The Rush would get off to a hot streak immediately in the first quarter, as they would score three unanswered goals. It would be Ben McIntosh getting the Rush going on the board first; followed by captain Chris Corbeil as he would break away from a two-on-one, and fire a shot behind Ward to increase the Rush lead to 2-0. Mark Matthews would then grab a pass in front of the Mammoth net, where he faked out Ward before slipping the ball into the back of the net to increase the Rush lead to three. Score at the end of one: Rush 3—Mammoth 0.
Special teams would get started on a good note for the Rush less than two minutes into the second quarter, as rookie Ryan Keenan would find the back of the net. With an assist on Keenan’s goal, former-Mammoth Adam Jones would reach the 400-point milestone in his NLL career. However, the Mammoth would turn up their game before halftime, as they would score four goals in a span of two minutes to tie up the game. Callum Crawford would get things going for the Mammoth as he would wire a shorthanded goal to get Colorado on the board. Jacob Ruest would cut the Rush lead down to two, as he would tally a power-play marker. The newest member of the Mammoth would get in on the action as well, as Stephen Keogh notched his first goal in a Mammoth jersey to bring them to within one. Brent Adams would tie up the game for the Mammoth as he would drive towards the net, going airborne over the crease to tuck it past Rush goaltender Aaron Bold. Score at the end of the half: Rush 4—Mammoth 4.
In the third quarter, both teams would exchange one goal apiece. Adrian Sorichetti of the Rush would find twine at 4:37; and Adams would notch his second on the night for the Mammoth at 8:53 to end the third quarter tied 5-5 heading into the final frame.
Just 35 seconds into the final period, Ruest would give the Mammoth a 6-5 advantage as he would get past two Rush defenders, and wire a shot past Bold. The Rush would equalize the game again as John LaFontaine would move down the turf in transition on an over-and-back call, where he would pass to Curtis Knight who found the back of the net to equalize the game at six. The Rush would jump ahead 7-6 on a delayed penalty call, as Matthews would fire a pass to the edge of the Mammoth crease, where McIntosh would perfectly time a quick shot past Ward. The Mammoth would pull Ward in favor of the extra-attacker, a move that backfired as Jeff Cornwall would bury a shot into the empty net to give the Rush the 8-6 lead. But the Mammoth would come back with a goal of their own as Eli McLaughlin wired a rocket over the shoulder ofBold on the power-play with four seconds remaining. Saskatchewan would win the final face-off, and secure the narrow the victory over the Colorado Mammoth. Final Score: Rush 8—Mammoth 7.
Last night’s victory means that the Rush have now defeated the Colorado Mammoth for the seventh time in the last eight meetings between the two division rivals.
In the victory, Ward would stand on his head as he would finish the game with 45 saves, including 16 in the third quarter; the Rush were able to strike with three straight goals in the final frame; and also dominated with shots on goal almost doubling the Mammoth tally 64-34.
Saskatchewan (5-2) will be back in action next Saturday night February 25, as they welcome the Calgary Roughnecks (3-4) to the Sasktel Centre for another edition of the Battle of the Prairies.
The Rush will face the Mammoth again on March 11th on their home turf in the second of the four game series.
JJ Seaward, Beat Writer Saskatchewan Rush
Lacrosse is Awesome