Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Calgary Roughnecks (8-10) finished off the season dropping a tight game on the road to the Saskatchewan Rush (14-4). Final Score: Rush 11—Roughnecks 10.
As expected from these two teams it has been the action has been back and forth. The game’s first goal to (90) Ben McIntosh catching Calgary’s (35) Christian Del Bianco off balance for the over the shoulder score. Calgary was held scoreless in the opening quarter despite the two power play opportunities to Jeremy Thompson; and McIntosh. Left alone in front of the net on a miscommunication by the Roughnecks allowed (77) Jeff Shattler to score. The goaltending was tested and held strong for both teams in the first quarter of this final season game. Defensively neither team has given much making this a possible tight scoring game.
Saskatchewan: Ben McIntosh (90); Jeff Shattler (77)
Calgary: Held scoreless
Calgary’s (19) Holden Cattoni opened the scoring very early at the top of the second on a point shot low glove side. At the other end Del Bianco has been making highlight reel saves for the Roughnecks, keeping it a one goal game (3-2) Rush. Taking advantage of the long floor pass from an alert Del Bianco, Curtis Dickson (17) dove through the crease for the superman goal. On a questionable penalty called on Calgary’s (44) Dane Dobbie for the ‘slash’, the Roughnecks managed to hold off the Rush allowing Garrett McIntosh to score a shorthanded goal. Saskatchewan’s Ryan Keenan (25) scores from the point over the right shoulder of Del Bianco with under a second to play leading into the halftime break. Score at the end of two: Roughnecks 5—Rush 5.
Saskatchewan: (B) McIntosh (1G); Matthew Dinsdale (32); Ryan Keenan (25)
Calgary: Holden Cattoni (19) (2G); Curtis Dickson (17) (2G); and Garrett McIntosh (6)
Two quick goals from Robert Church (17); and Shattler put the Rush up by two half way point of the third quarter. Mark Matthews (42) who was one assist away from tying the all time assist leader would put a laser over the shoulder of Del Bianco coming across from the left side to the point, increasing the Rush lead to three goals in what was a dominant Rush third quarter. Score at the end of three: Rush 9—Roughnecks 6.
Saskatchewan: Robert Church (17); Jeff Shattler (77) (2G); Mark Matthews (42)
Calgary: Cattoni (1G)
The Roughneck’s power play opened the fourth quarter but they were unable to capitalize on the advantage. On the ensuing play Calgary took a penalty resulting in a Rush goal; as well as tying the assist record Matthews would feed it to (B) McIntosh for the three goal lead. The Roughnecks are relying heavily on Dickson to score on the power play. Playing at the point away from the usual crease position on the power play, and responding to his positional change, Saskatchewan took away his shooting lane limiting his attack options. On the eleventh Rush goal Matthews would surpasses as the assist leader. With time counting down the urgency for a Riggers comeback became a fight against the clock. Dickson on the attack drew three Rush defenders, and with a behind the back pass to a cutting Cattoni received the pass for the score over the shoulder of Evan Kirk. Calgary ran out of time in the fourth quarter in a game that was non-stop back and forth action. Roughnecks finished up playing shorthanded on a penalty to Garrett Harnett for holding the stick. Del Bianco would come out of his crease to assist in pressuring the Rush for a ball turn-over; and eating the clock the Saskatchewan Rush put a win in the books as time runs out for the Roughnecks. Final Score: Saskatchewan 11—Calgary 10.
Saskatchewan: (B) McIntosh (1G); Dan Dawson (6)
Calgary: Wes Berg (14); Dickson (1G); Cattoni (1G); Dane Dobbie(44)
The west division semi-final is set for May 5 against the Colorado Mammoth in Denver. The Roughnecks now have a week to prepare for the opening round of the playoffs.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome