Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday March 17, 2018, the Colorado Mammoth (9-3) headed to the Great White North to face the Vancouver Stealth (1-12) at the Langley Events Centre. The Stealth have a multitude of talent but have been having a rough go of it during the 2018 season. The 3,013 die hard Stealth fans were there to cheer their team knowing they have the potential to win. The Mammoth came into this game with the attitude of not underestimating Vancouver because they have the talent but the chemistry is off balance and they could click at any time. Vancouver gave the Mammoth the ride of their life with a game that would have both Colorado and Stealth fans on the edge of their seats. Final Score: Colorado 13—Vancouver 10.
Colorado started out the gate with a breakaway goal from “Lightning” Joey Cupido (2G) catching Eric Penney off guard only 23 seconds in. This would be Cupido’s 100th career point. The Mammoth had one goal, work together as a team and win. Jeremy Noble (2G, 2A) would hit back-to-back goals. The first coming at 2:23 off a power-play on the Joel McCready slashing penalty at 52 seconds; and the second almost four minutes later off a nice tic-tac-toe play with Robert Hope and Chris Wardle. Tony Malcolm (2G, 3A) would quiet the Mammoth bench as he would sneak one past Dillon Ward (assist Andrew Suitor) at 7:54, his first of two on the night. Stephen Keogh would close out the quarter (assist Wardle) at the 9:55 mark and finish it with his signature scoop & shout celebration after the red lights behind the net flashed. There would be two other penalties in the quarter, one from each side of the field but neither team would capitalize on the man up situation. Score at the end of one: Mammoth 4—Stealth 1.
The second quarter would be a seesaw match between the teams. Vancouver’s Pat Saunders (1G) found twine off the pass from Logan Schuss at 1:51 bringing them to within two. But Colorado fought right back with two of their own. Wardle (1G, 4A); and Jacob “The Rooster” Ruest (1G) would hit net at 3:21 and 5:16 stretching the margin to four. Vancouver wasn’t giving up the good fight. They’d hit back with two of their own at 5:16 and 6:58. Rhys Duch (1G, 4A) found twine followed by James Rahe (1G). Ian Hawksbee, defenseman for the Stealth would be nailed with an illegal cross-checking at 14:27 and Colorado would take advantage of their third man up situation. Eli McLaughlin would hit glove side slow on Penney 22 seconds into the power-play opportunity. Colorado was two of three on the power-play and the goal would put them up at the end of the second 7—5.
Vancouver dominated the third frame starting the scoring at 6:35. They would go on a three-goal run as McCready combined with Duch and Corey Small; followed by back-to-back power-play goals. Schuss would capitalize on the slashing call against Wardle at 10:17; and McCready would complete the run at 10:49 off yet another power-play, this time off the Robert Hope tripping call. In the first three goals of the quarter, McCready; Duch; and Schuss would all be involved. Mammoth forward McLaughlin would notch another at 13:29 to close out a second consecutive frame. At this point in the game, both teams would be two for three in man-up opportunities. Score at the end of three: Mammoth 8—Vancouver 7.
The Mammoth would start out the fourth with the same score on the board that they ended with in their last two games. Goals were in abundance and after watching the scoring, it was evident a pattern had occurred in the final 15. Vancouver would score one; followed by two from Colorado; a repeat of the pattern and in the final two minutes each team would get one. McCready started it off for Vancouver at 1:19 getting the hat-trick and tying the game at eight apiece. Team Captain for the Mammoth, Hope would score on a defensive breakaway headed down the field and hit glove side on Penney; followed by Keogh with 10 seconds remaining on the Matt Beers holding call putting the Mammoth back up by two. On Beer’s second penalty of the frame, Vancouver would score on the man down situation with Malcolm getting his second on the night. One minute ticked off the clock and Colorado would hit back with two more. Ryan Benesch (1G, 3A) would get his only goal of the night on the power-play, with Beer’s still in the box for Vancouver. In under less than a minute, Zack Greer (1G, 1A) found a hole between the pipes and blew it by Penney putting Colorado back up by two. In a last ditch effort, the Stealth would pull Penney in favor of the extra-attacker and it paid off. Small would score at 12:51 putting the Stealth back to within two. During the last minutes of the game, although Vancouver tried and went for the EA for the remainder of the game, Cupido who started the scoring would also end the scoring with the empty netter (assist Greg Downing) at 14:21. At that point, Vancouver although they fought back hard and stayed close in all but the first quarter, could not overpower the Mammoth. Final Score: Mammoth 13—Colorado 10.
The Mammoth played like a well oiled machine on all ends. Tim Edwards did well in the face-off “X” going 12-17; Ward made 49 out of 59 saves; and they were four out of five on the power-play.
Joey Cupido is our Star of the Game. His enthusiasm; speed; comradery; and love of the game are playing a huge role in the success the Mammoth are seeing to date.
Next up, the two teams will face-off again, this time at the Pepsi Center on March 24. The Mammoth fans will get to see John Grant Jr.’s jersey retired and are hoping to go six in a row.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome