Photo Credit Feature Image: NLL
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Calgary Roughnecks headed south to face the Eastern Division first place Georgia Swarm (8-3). The last time these two teams met was up in Calgary at the Scotiabank Saddledome and the Riggers would come out on top 18-11. Georgia coming off two straight losses wanted to get back into the “W” column. Calgary was hoping for another decisive victory over Georgia, but luck was not on the side of the Roughnecks (4-8) during the St. Patrick’s Day lacrosse action and they would lose to the Swarm. Final Score: Georgia 17—Calgary 8.
The troubles continue for the Calgary Roughnecks having to play catch up lacrosse. After the first quarter of play the game was tied at four.
In the second the Swarm went to work on the Roughies, with penalties continuing to hurt Calgary as the Thompsons always seem to capitalize on the man up advantage with great ball movement allowing for the quick stick goals from the crease. With 4:49 left in the half diving through the crease Swarm’s Mitch Belisle (85) untouched would score, however at a price for Scigliano. While diving through the crease Belisle made contact with Frank Scigliano (92), catching him in an awkward position looking like he may have twisted his knee in the process. Back up keeper Del Bianco (35) would set up between the pipes while Scigliano was tended to on the bench. Calgary’s woes would continue as they had two goals overturned due to players being in the crease. The Roughnecks continued to have trouble playing man to man with the constant motion of the Swarm offense. Shots on goal 37-20 in favour of the Swarm: At the end of two Calgary was down 11-5.
Georgia would start the third scoring off a bouncer low stick side on Scigliano three minutes into the third. They would also allow ten different players to score thirteen goals for the Swarm. Calgary on the power-play snuck a shot over Poulin’s (30) right shoulder adding to the score tally to 6. But Calgary was still having trouble corralling the loose balls. With no shot clock reset at 5:52 on the Swarm offense, Calgary would toss the challenge flag for that “who knows what will happen” conversation with the referee. As a result the Roughnecks were given a penalty for delay of game, and Bob Snider (41) for the illegal crosscheck. Georgia would capitalize on the two man advantage at 5:26, and would still remain up one man. Calgary successfully killed the second penalty not allowing the Swarm to notch another. At the end of the third quarter Calgary was down 15-6 and the frustration continued for the Roughnecks having to come from behind.
The Roughneck’s would start the fourth on a power play; and a short lived power play as Calgary was assessed a double roughing penalty. The Swarm would hit back right away to score an even man goal. Curtis Dickson scored his third of the game (hat-trick) when he dove across the crease to bring the score 16-7 still in favour of the Swarm. With two minutes remaining in the Digby (23) penalties Calgary was still man down. Despite the ball bouncing the Swarm’s way the Riggers would kill the second two minute penalty. Calgary wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet and Tyson Bell (94) went end to end putting it by Poulin for Calgary’s eighth goal. To end the game Calgary’s frustrations would show as they would be hit with a frustration penalty off an illegal checking from behind, a short lived power play as a perfectly placed bounce shot put Georgia up 17-8 with less than half a minute. And that was all she wrote as the final score was: Georgia 17—Calgary 8.
Next up, Calgary heads to Saskatchewan on Friday March 24, to face the Rush (7-3) and the Swarm will host the second place Toronto Rock (6-5) at Infinite Energy Arena in Atlanta.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome