Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Colorado Mammoth (8-3) hosted the Calgary Roughnecks (4-7) at the Pepsi Center in Denver, CO in front of 15,034 fans. Last night’s game would determine two outcomes. If the Mammoth came away with the win, they would not only win the season series, but would be the second team in the NLL to clinch a play-off berth. Colorado was on a three game winning streak heading into the contest and wanted to keep the streak alive. In a back and forth contest with hard hitting; fast paced lacrosse, the victor would be Colorado with their second game in seven days ending with the same score. Final: Mammoth 8—Roughnecks 7.
Enjoy our photo gallery of the game: Mammoth vs. Roughnecks 3/10/18
The Mammoth would win the opening face-off but lost possession to Calgary. Tyler Burton would send a pass to Dane Dobbie with the ball ending up in the stick of Holden Cattoni (1G) who stared down Dillon Ward and put it between the pipes at 1:19. The Mammoth would stretch out a three goal run over the next two minutes of play. Brad Self (1G, 1A), from the right side of the crease would pump fake on Christian Del Bianco who leads the league in save percentage with a .957, but was no match for Self as he slam dunked the ball over the shoulder of Del Bianco. Next up Zack Greer (1G, 2A) assist to Self, would again fool Del Bianco as he lit up the pipes with a bullet. To close out the run, Chris “Air” Wardle (2G) again caught Del Bianco off guard on his left side and proceeded to walk up the boards and tip toed the rail hyping up the fans even more. Dobbie (2G, 2A) notched his first of the night at the 9:27 mark heading straight down the field, went airborne
and slam dunked the ball over the right shoulder of Ward making the score 3-2 in favor of Colorado. Wardle would go airborne again getting his second of the night, and caught Del Bianco off guard on the left side. Wes Berg (2G, 1A) got the cross field pass from Tyler Pace at 11:09, went left, then right and caught Ward leaning left and hit twine. To close out the first, Stephen Keogh (1G) after the failed attempt by Ryan Benesch got the tic-tac-toe pass from Benesch and would score the final goal of the period at 14:30. The Mammoth would capitalize on their second power-play opportunity off the checking from behind penalty by Mike Carnegie. Two penalties in the frame, both on Calgary; Del Bianco was eight for 11 in the save category; and Ward with seven out of 10 saves. Score at the end of one: Colorado 5—Calgary 3.
The second quarter would be low on scoring and high on penalties. While the fans watched great net-minding; smooth transitions on both sides of the floor; and great defense it allowed the fans to see the precision of two powerful lacrosse teams in action. The clock ticked off nine minutes and 43 seconds before the Riggers would find the net. Mitch Wilde (1G) got the down field pass from Del Bianco (1A) and on the breakaway pump faked and found twine against Ward. Over three and a half minutes would tick down before the Mammoth would find the net for the second and final goal of the half. Benesch on another Mammoth power-play would find an opening on Del Bianco at 13:09. Penalties were high as tempers flared and the hard hitting began. Although the players hit with the penalties would plead their case to the men in black and white, they would all eventually be sent to the box. Penalties included: three “holding the stick”; four “slashes”; and a “goalie interference”. Score at the end of the first half: Mammoth 6—Roughnecks 4.
Penalties would match points in the third. Calgary would outscore the Mammoth two goals to one; and Colorado would be on the high end of the penalties leading Calgary two penalties to one. Berg would score the only power-play goal for Calgary at 29 seconds into the frame. Leading by one, Colorado made a risky call and pulled Ward at the 7:10 mark in favor of the extra attacker. It paid off with Eli McLaughlin (1G) fooling Del Bianco as he got the feed from Benesch at 7:23. The Riggers would hit net with 13:43 as Creighton Reid found Dobbie for his second of the night. Score at the end of three: Colorado 7—Calgary 6.
The fourth quarter was all defense, defense, and defense. Both net-minders made save after save. Calgary would tie the game at 3:32 when Curtis Dickson (1G, 1A) would tie the game with a shovel shot that trickled through the legs of Ward stunning the Mammoth fans. While it seemed as though the fans were watching a tennis match as each team would shoot on goal, the goal tenders held strong. The tie would be broken Joey “Lightning” Cupido who, on the breakaway snatched the long pass from Ward and bolted down the field charging Del Bianco as he jumped and slammed the ball in over his right shoulder. Cupido walked up the glass, crossed the ledge and nailed the landing to break the tie putting the Mammoth up by one. For the remaining 9 minutes and thirty seconds the fans were on the edges of their seats. As the clock hit the 90 second mark, the fans were on their feet screaming “Go Mammoth” and “Defense”. This was just what Ward needed as he stopped the last five shots on goal allowing the Mammoth to win their fourth in a row. Final Score: Mammoth 8—Roughnecks 7.
Milestones for the Mammoth were in abundance. Ryan Benesch after his five point game (1G, 4A) notched his 900th point; Robert Hope had two caused turnovers surpassing his 100th caused turnover; and Scott Carnegie broke the 500 mark with three loose balls in the game.
On St. Patrick’s Day Colorado heads to the Langley Events Centre in Vancouver to face the Stealth (1-11) and by no means are they going into the game underestimating the Stealth. Their record is deceiving as the team has talent that hasn’t clicked and the Mammoth does not want to be the ones to allow them to open it up.
Calgary (4-7) will be back home at the Scotiabank Saddledome to host the Rochester Knighthawks (6-6). Rochester is vying for a play-off spot sitting third in the East. Calgary should clinch the third spot in the West.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome