Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Sunday May 13, 2018, the Saskatchewan Rush defeated the Calgary Roughnecks 15-13 in the Western Division Semi-Finals at the Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon. There were 11,568 fans in the arena in support of their 10-4 Rush. Calgary has not defeated the Rush in their eleven meetings since the team moved to Saskatchewan, and the streak would continue as the Riggers would be defeated in Round Two of the 2018 playoffs. It was a rough season for Calgary, but even with their record of 8-10 they managed to get into post season action and made it past the first round defeating their nemesis the Colorado Mammoth for their eighth straight post season victory.
Opening the scoring Ben McIntosh hit net with the high slot while falling from a check bouncing his shot under the glove side of Christian Del Bianco. It was a physical first quarter that favoured the Rush despite the physicality of both teams attacking the ball with multiple players. Curtis Dickson broke the ice with a sub shot, following his first goal with a dunk from behind the net. Rounding off the first quarter Tyson Bell (94) would take an unnecessary penalty in front of the referee for an illegal crosscheck on Mark Mathews (42). Wasting little time Robert Church put it in to double the score 4-2 Rush.
First Quarter Scoring:
Saskatchewan – Ben McIntosh (90); Ryan Keenan (25); Curtis Knight (9); and Robert Church (17)
Calgary – Curtis Dickson (17) (2G)
The statistics did not favor the Roughnecks in the first quarter and they were having difficulty finding their rhythm. McIntosh would score again for the Rush on the power play for roughing. A turnover on an errant pass allowed Rush Defender Ryan Dilks an unchallenged run at the Calgary net; making no mistake he placed his shot over the glove shoulder of Del Bianco. Dickson would secure his hat-trick in the second quarter sneaking the ball between the legs of Evan Kirk (35). Time ran out in the second with Calgary down 8-5 heading into the dressing room for the halftime break.
Second Quarter Scoring:
Saskatchewan – Matt Hossack (94); McIntosh; Ryan Dilks (24); and Mark Matthews (42)
Calgary – Wes Berg (14); and Dickson
After the halftime intermission Calgary gained momentum with a three goal run. Dickson snuck an underhand shot from an odd angle for the score. Dane Dobbie from the shooter position tied the game at eight apiece five and a half minutes into the third quarter. Rush Coach Derek Keenan challenged what appeared to be a cross-bar, and on review it was ruled to be a good goal for Church. Ex-Roughneck Jeff Shattler crashing the net received a pass from Church to score Saskatchewan’s tenth goal. Closing the third, the Rush had the momentum scoring four straight. Silencing the crowd Calgary scored with one second remaining in the third. The goal went to review because it looked as though the clock had expired before the goal was scored. The evidence was inconclusive and Crew Chief Mark Gardonio ruled it a good goal with .01 seconds on the clock giving the Riggers the momentum they needed heading into the fourth. Score at the end of three, Calgary would into the final fifteen minutes of play and their 2018 season down 12-9.
Third Quarter Scoring:
Saskatchewan – Church; Jeff Shattler (77); and McIntosh
Calgary – Holden Cattoni (19); Berg; Dickson; and Dane Dobbie (44)
Calgary having to play comeback lacrosse was being cautious in the offensive zone moving the ball to create openings. The Rush had successfully shadowed Dobbie and Dickson frustrating the Riggers attack. Then on a breakaway pass to Matthews he would score the 14th goal for the Rush. Calgary wasn’t ready to be counted out as Dobbie snuck into a shooting position in front of the net, received the pass from the crease and put a fake on Kirk to create a huge opening for the goal. With Calgary down by three, Del Bianco was called to the bench for the extra Calgary attacker. Taking advantage of an intercepted pass Dilks would score the empty netter making the score 15-11 Rush with two minutes to play taking the wind out of the Roughnecks sails. A late two goal run for the Roughnecks and a five on three power-play were not enough as the clock ran out for the 2018 Roughnecks season. Final Score: Rush 15—Roughnecks 13.
Fourth Quarter Scoring:
Saskatchewan – Matthew Dinsdale (32); Matthews; and Dilks
Calgary – Dickson; Dobbie; and Berg
Dickson notched a sock-trick with four assists (10pt game) to close out the season; Berg scored five goals and one assist; Dobbie had two goals and nine assists (11pt game);
Del Bianco saw 59 shots with 45 saves as the starter for the Roughnecks; and Calgary was 4-6 on the power play.
The Saskatchewan Rush will host the NLL Eastern Division Champions, the Rochester Knighthawks in Game One of the 2018 NLL Championship series May 26, 2018.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome