Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday March 24, 2018 it was a very special night at the Loud House. How ironic that the great John Grant, Jr., #24 would have his jersey retired on the 24th day of the month. The house was packed as 15,541 Mammoth fans would come to watch one of the best players of all times be presented with a golden lacrosse stick; a special framed jersey; and his number hoisted to the rafters. Grant, Jr. is only the fourth player in Mammoth history to have his jersey retired. In honor of Grant, Jr., all the Mammoth players with the exception of the net-minders donned the number 24 on their jerseys. However, with all the celebration the Colorado Mammoth (9-4) would succumb to the Vancouver Stealth (2-12) and break their five game winning streak. Final Score: Vancouver 13—Colorado 12.
Vancouver, with fire in their eyes, came out of the locker room with one goal…defeat their foes the Mammoth. The Stealth started out quickly with a three-goal run. Three of the goals would get by Dillon Ward stick side. Corey Small (1G, 3A) got the scoring going quickly only 39 seconds in with the feed from Pat Saunders who was recently traded to Vancouver from the Buffalo Bandits. Casey Jackson (2G, 1A) filling in for Logan Schuss and just coming off an injury would find net at 2:59 (assist Rhys Duch and Tony Malcom). Andrew Suitor would get his only point of the night unassisted when the shot was deflected and found its way between Ward’s legs. With two seconds remaining on the man down situation off the Reid Mydske ‘holding stick’ penalty, Travis Cornwall (2G) would score unassisted at 7:13. Colorado would dominate the remainder of the frame. Stephen Keogh (3G) would set up for the feed, while covered by three defenders, was able to make the shot past Eric Penney stick side low at 9:58. The Mammoth would score their first of two power-play goals, this one off the Cliff Smith ‘holding stick’ penalty. With 12:53 remaining in the frame, Ryan Benesch (2G, 3A) got the feed from Jeremy Noble who was bullying his way through Stealth defenders throughout the game and beat Penney again stick side low. Closing out the quarter, Joey Cupido scooped the loose ball, passed to Tim Edwards who on the breakaway headed down the right side of the boards, moved the front of the net, pump faked right then left and slam dunked the ball over the left shoulder of Penney with 18.3 seconds remaining. Score at the end of one: Stealth 4—Mammoth 3.
Colorado would continue their run with another three to start out the second. Benesch on the power-play used the screen off Matt Beers and hit stick side again. Next up, Jacob Ruest (3G, 2A) got the cross field pass from Jordan Gilles blowing it by Penney at 2:57. The Mammoth were shorthanded due to ‘holding stick’ penalty called on Robert Hope. Ward would send a long pass to Joey Cupido (1G, 1A), who with his lightning speed hit the floor running. Penney took his stance in net as Cupido went airborne and before stepping on the turf, would slam dunk the ball over the right shoulder stick side high. The goal was challenged, but after further review Cupido clearly did not touch down inside the crease. This would put the Mammoth up 6-4. The Stealth fired back with a three-goal run of their own. Pat Saunders (2G, 2A) would capitalize for Vancouver 14 seconds into the second penalty against Hope. Saunders would get cross crease pass from Duch, sending a laser past Ward. They weren’t done yet as Brendan Fowler would win the faceoff, Saunders would shoot, hit post and Tony Malcom (2G, 3A) who was in perfect position for the rebound, hit net unassisted only 9 seconds later. Jackson came right back, assist Malcom and Small closing out the run at 11:27 and putting Vancouver up 7-6. Colorado was not prepared to end the half down by one. Keogh again battled defenders, ducked and dodged then set up for the shot hitting five-hole on Penney. Ping pong lacrosse after the first 30 and some of the best lacrosse this weekend. Score at the end of two: Mammoth 8—Stealth 8.
Heading into the third, the score would go back and forth. Vancouver would go up by one when Chris O’Dougherty got the ball on a caused turnover, headed towards the net and fed the ball cross field to Brandon Clelland (1G) only 32 seconds in. Ruest would tie the game at 1:14 hitting stick side low. Again the Stealth would tie the game after seven minutes of scoreless lacrosse. Cornwall would get his second on the night (8:10) as he got the breakaway bolting down the field hitting net stick side low. Keogh would notch his hat-trick at 13:49 (assist Ruest and Benesch) tying the game at nine apiece. Score at the end of three: Mammoth 9—Stealth 9.
With 15 minutes remaining on the clock, it was time for the hard-hitting; pin point net minding; and offense to kick it into gear. With 41 seconds having ticked off the clock, the most hilarious penalty explanation was given when Chris O’Dougherty and Zack Greer were up against the boards behind the Vancouver net. The official penalties go into the book as ‘checking from behind’. Here’s what Crew Chief Todd Labranche said “These two were clearly having issues with each other; could not restrain themselves, so we’re going to give them two minutes to think about what they’ve done”. https://www.facebook.com/LaxSportsNetwork/videos/2251977135064431/ (Video Courtesy of Lax Sports Network). Clearly the best penalty call in the NLL. Vancouver would outscore Colorado four to three in the fourth. Duch teamed up with Small again hitting stick side on Ward at 2:04. The next goal was a highlight reel goal. Eli McLaughlin (1G, 1A) ran cross field, and between three defenders, faked the shot then sent it behind the back fooling Penney and scored glove side high at 3:42. Colorado defender Tim Edwards would be nailed with a ‘holding’ call at 4:06. Ward sent a long pass down field; alternate Captain Zack Greer missed the pass, but recovered it after a scuffle, and hit five-hole 30 seconds later for the shorthanded goal. Ruest would catch Penney off guard hitting stick side low, giving him the hat-trick and the final goal for the Mammoth. Colorado could not hold the lead as Penney made seven out of 10 saves and giving his team an opportunity to come from behind. Vancouver would close out the game on a three-goal run. Malcolm would have his shot deflected by Ward only for it to roll in under Ward (assist Saunders) at 7:31.
Joel McCready would fight his way through two defenders and fooled Ward with a shot hitting net tying the game at 12 apiece. Saunders would be the hero of the night with a pump fake putting the Stealth up by one, 13-12. After the face-off, the Mammoth attempted several shots on goal. Penney would attempt a clear, but Cupido would jump and snatch the pass midfield and with 22.5 seconds on the clock, Colorado would call a time out. They pulled Ward in favor of the extra-attacker. Although the Mammoth would try, they could not penetrate the wall Penney had in front of the net. Colorado’s five game winning streak was over. Final Score: Vancouver 13—Colorado 12.
One thing was evident after speaking with several Mammoth players postgame, they clearly underestimated the Stealth. We have been saying all year that although going into last night’s game, their record was deceiving. They have the talent; and have been close in the majority of their games.
We spoke with Brendan Fowler after the game and when asked about winning face-offs, he said “It’s not about one play, that play won’t make the game. It’s the cumulative plays throughout the game that pay off. We have been close in most of the games this season and we knew it would come together”.
After the Stealth made a coaching change a few weeks back, the lacrosse world knew they needed a fresh outlook. They’ve been plagued with injuries; suspensions; and had to put guys into the lineup who haven’t had much playing time this season. Could this be the turning point in the season for Vancouver?
NEXT UP:
Colorado hits the road for back-to-back games this coming weekend. On Friday March 30, they head north east to face the Toronto Rock (7-6) at Air Canada Centre. Then they take off to head down to Rochester to face the Knighthawks (7-7) at Blue Cross Arena. This weekend is extremely important for the NLL Eastern Division teams as everyone is fighting for a play-off spot. Vancouver heads home to Langley Events Centre to host their Western Division rivals, the Calgary Roughnecks (5-8) on Saturday March 31.
Di Miller, Beat Writer Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome