Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
Playing in your home arena is considered to be an advantage, not on this frosty -30 C night in Calgary. The 9,555 diehard Roughnecks (1-2) fans who braved the bitter cold headed to the Scotiabank Saddledome only to see their Roughnecks fall behind in the third quarter against the Mammoth (3-0) and although they fought hard, they could not dig themselves out of the hole. Despite a late comeback in the fourth Calgary would lose the contest. Final Score: Mammoth 11—Roughnecks 7.
The Roughnecks moved a couple of players to the injured reserve (11) Greg Harnett with an upper body injury as well as defender/transition (41) Bob Snider with a lower body injury. Filling these spots on the active roster on defense (81) Anthony Kalinich; and forward (88) Ryan Martell.
As expected this competition would be close, both teams coming into this game on a winning high. Opening the scoring for the Roughnecks (88) Ryan Martel in his NLL debut put his first shot between the legs of Mammoth net minder (45) Dillon Ward at 3:49.
Mammoth forward Ryan Benesch on the power-play found twine at 6:32, but the Roughnecks would answer back with Riley Loewen putting them up by one. Colorado wasn’t done yet and Benesch would notch his second on the night with 51 seconds remaining in the first. Calgary’s stingy defense minimized scoring chances by limiting the Mammoth from cutting across the crease and blocking shooting lanes. Every loose ball was a battle for possession. Score at the end of one: Roughnecks 2—Mammoth 2.
The Mammoth would start off the second at 3:30 Brad Self (assist Robert Hope) putting them up by one. For almost five minutes fans would watch ping pong lacrosse and it would be Loewen on the power-play scoring at 8:00. Only 25 seconds later Calgary would put up yet another power-play goal this time Dane Dobbie
to put the Roughnecks up by one. But Colorado would close it out on the third power play in the frame from Benesch with the hat-trick (assist Jeremy Noble) at 11:42. At the end of the second the score was tied again at four apiece.
The third quarter was all Colorado as they would hold the Roughnecks scoreless. A broken play for the Mammoth turned into a quick stick for an unattended left handed crease man (51) Eli McLaughlin catching Scigliano flat footed and a wide open left side of the net. Penalties definitely play a role against the Roughnecks, as a five-on-three (7) Benesch would score putting the Mammoth in the lead 6-4. Oddly enough Benesch scored yet again nine minutes later; and McLaughlin would close it out with 12 seconds remaining. The quarter had McLaughlin open and close the frame with Benesch notching two in between. Score at the end of three: Mammoth 8—Roughnecks 4.
Calgary would open the fourth with an interfering with the goalie penalty and Colorado would capitalize with Jordan Gilles scoring on the man-up situation at 3:00. The Roughnecks would strike back on the power-play with Wes Berg (assist Tyler Digby) at 4:47. A goal challenge by Calgary’s bench boss on Bergs’ second goal was overturned and the Mammoth maintained their 9-5 lead. Colorado well aware of the shot clock used it to their advantage to maintaining their lead in the fourth. They would have back to back goals from Jacob Ruest; and Stephen Keogh putting them up by six. Calgary tried to mount a comeback late in the fourth quarter scoring back-to-back goals with 11 seconds. They would pull Scigliano from the net going with the EA which paid off as Berg would get his second at 14:36; and Holden Cattoni at 14:47. Unfortunately for the Roughies, it would not be enough. Final Score: Mammoth 11—Roughnecks 7.
UP NEXT:
The Roughnecks (1-2) will head out on the road to Buffalo on January 6 to face the Bandits (1-2) at Key Bank Center. The Mammoth will have a bye week with their next game against the Saskatchewan Rush on Saturday January 13 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
Follow “Lacrosse is Awesome” on Twitter @awesomeislax; Instagram lacrosseisawesome2015; and Facebook LACROSSE IS AWESOME; and www.lacrosseisawesome.com