Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
It was a rough 2017-2018 season for the Vancouver Stealth (2-15) as they dropped their third in a row at home in another high scoring game, losing 26-11 to the Calgary Roughnecks (8-9) at the Langley Events Centre.
Vancouver’s first shift wasted no time in scoring 34 seconds in off Rhys Duch’s (1G, 2A) point shot low glove side on Calgary’s tender Christian Del Bianco. A second Vancouver goal was challenged by Calgary and called back on the review for a crease violation. Bob Snider made an appearance as the FOGO (Faceoff—Get off) for the Roughnecks. The pace quickened half way through the first. Eric Penney held strong as the Roughnecks would find the gaps in the Stealth defense. Calgary’s four goal first quarter run ended with Corey Small (2G, 2A) collecting his own rebound and sneaking it over Del Bianco’s
shoulder, cutting the lead to 4-2.
Calgary – Dane Dobbie (3G, 4A); Chad Cummings (2G, 1A); Holden Cattoni (3G, 6A)
Vancouver – Rhys Duch (1G, 2); Corey Small (2G, 2A)
Cutting across the top Cattoni opened the second quarter scoring for Calgary with a laser left handed shot of the shoulder of Penney. Moments later Tony Malcom (3G, 3A) scored a mirror like goal on the Riggers. Taking advantage of the gaps in the Vancouver defense and a goaltender change for the Stealth, Tye Belanger replaced Penney after Calgary scored a couple of shorthanded goals by unattended Roughnecks. Heading into the locker room the first half ended with Vancouver playing catch up lacrosse down 11-6. Calgary had taken control of the game on overage errors; and the defense leaving unattended players in front of the Stealth net.
Calgary – Cattoni; Tyler Digby (4G, 1A); Wes Berg (3G, 5A); Ryan Martel (1G); Curtis Dickson (4G, 8A); and Mitch Wilde (2G, 3A)
Vancouver — Tony Malcom (3G, 3A); Andrew Suitor (1G, 1A); Casey Jackson (2G, 2A)
The wheels fell off the Vancouver bus as the Roughnecks dominated the second half. Penney was put back into the game that didn’t have a Vancouver home advantage. Two men down late in the third quarter and the Stealth were showing frustration as Calgary demonstrated they have a loaded scoring bench. There was no quitting on the bench from the Stealth as Jackson scored on the ‘Dunk’ from behind the net beating Del Bianco over the shoulder. Calgary would score 10 in the third as opposed to two from the Stealth. Score at the end of three: Calgary 21—Vancouver 8.
Calgary – Digby; Cattoni; Wilde; Berg; Dobbie; Dickson; Zach Currier (2G, 2A)
Vancouver – Small; and Jackson
Vancouver’s Seth Oakes (1G, 1A) scored top shelf on Del Bianco for the rookie’s first goal with the Stealth. Throughout the fourth the Roughnecks moved the ball taking advantage of scoring opportunities while running out the clock. Scoring a highlight reel goal behind the back bouncer Malcom beat Del
Bianco giving the Stealth their 11th and final goal of the night. Final Score: Calgary 26—Vancouver 11.
Calgary – Berg; Dickson; and Riley Loewen (2G, 2A)
Vancouver – Seth Oakes (1G, 1A); Logan Schuss (1G, 1A); and Malcom
NEXT UP:
Calgary (8-9) heads over to Saskatchewan to play the Rush (13-4) closing out the regular season on April 28 before the playoffs begin. Vancouver (2-15) will close out their 2017-2018 season when they head to Georgia to play the Swarm (9-7) on April 28 as well.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome