Di Miller, Correspondent Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Colorado Mammoth (4-4) hosted the Buffalo Bandits (4-1) at the Pepsi Center in Denver on Saturday January 25. It was Beach Party night at the Loud House and the 10,094 Mammoth fans were excited to see their team back in action after three weeks on the road. Colorado had just come off a strong win against their West Division rivals the Saskatchewan Rush the week before and were hoping to ride that high into last night’s contest. But they were outscored and played catch-up throughout the contest only holding the lead once in the first three minutes and not getting the lead back until the 10:53 mark of the fourth. Although Ryan Lee had a stellar night scoring five unassisted goals, it would not be enough. The Bandits would tie the game with 1:03 left in regulation and go onto to score on a fluke play in overtime defeating the Mammoth. Final Score OT: Bandits 13—Mammoth 12.
The Bandits would see Josh Byrne have an amazing seven goal night; net-minder Matt Vinc notching his 8,000th career save in the game; Brent Noseworthy would score his first career NLL goal; and Dhane Smith would notch his 400th career assist.
Mammoth Rookie Dylan Molloy would log his first career NLL goal at the 2:22 mark in the first in spectacular fashion with a diving goal to beat Matt Vinc far side getting Colorado on the board. Ryan Lee (5g) would give the Mammoth their only lead at the 3:11 mark and they would chase the Bandits throughout the contest. The Bandits led in shots on goal 17-15. Score at the end of one: Bandits 4—Mammoth 3.
Buffalo controlled the second and Byrne would start it off quickly once again increasing their lead a bit more and only 25 seconds in. They’d score three unanswered, including one off a penalty shot by Byrnes on the illegal substitution and slam dunked the shot in over the shoulder of Dillon Ward after a couple of pump fakes 7-3 Bandits. Lee would send the quick strike over Vinc’s shoulder to get them back to within three with less than three remaining in the first half. Shots on goal were even at 26 apiece. Score at the end of two: Bandits 7—Mammoth 4.
Colorado seemed to come out from the locker room with a bit more fire outscoring Buffalo 4-2. But it would Byrne would get it going once again, just a little later this time at the 2:54 mark. Colorado would notch three in a row, with Lee going back-to-back for the hat-trick; and Kyle Killen (2g, 1a) getting in on the action with a nice shot past Vinc to get the Mammoth to within one at 9:14. But it only took 19 seconds for Steve Priolo to notch one on the breakaway in transition to put Buffalo back up by two. Colorado would put up one more, another from Lee with 2:01 left getting them back to within one. Buffalo had taken the lead in shots on goal 41-35. Score at the end of three: Bandits 9—Colorado 8.
In a repeat of the first three frames, Byrne would be the first to score. He teamed up with Dhane Smith 34 seconds in putting the Bandits back up by two. But Colorado would chip away with Killen notching his second. The score would teeter back and forth until Eli McLaughlin who was left unguarded, came off the free pick-and-roll to tie the game at 11 apiece at the 10:28 mark. The atmosphere in the arena changed at that moment and a fired up Mammoth squad took notice. Jacob Ruest would give Colorado their first lead since the 3:11 mark in the first 25 seconds later but with plenty of time left on the clock for a Bandits come back. With numerous possessions during the remaining 4:07, Byrne who had been hot all night, would tie the game with 1:03 remaining. Colorado was unable to capitalize during their last possession with a miscue in the last 11.9 seconds and would lose control of the ball sending the game into OT. Score at the end of regulation: Mammoth 12—Bandits 12.
Heading into OT, and several possessions by the teams, Bandits Forward Corey Small would end up the hero. Steve Priolo called a timeout with 1:46 off the clock into OT. They set up the play which ended up with Fraser passing the ball to Smith, who sent the pass all the way to Corey Small on the other end of the floor. He ripped the high shot hitting Ward on the shoulder; the shot deflected up in the air; hit the post; fell on the floor behind Ward; and while Gilles was trying to clear the ball accidentally knocked it into the net. Final Score OT: Bandits 13—Mammoth 12.
TEAM STATS:
Buffalo: 50 SOG; 27 SOFF; 78 LB; 13-29 FO; 0-1 PP
Colorado: 53 SOF; 23 SOFF; 65 LB; 16-29 FO; 2-2 PP
NET-MINDER STATS:
Buffalo Matt Vinc: 53 SOG; 41 Saves; .774 Sv%; 12 GA
Colorado Dillon Ward: 50 SOF; 37 Saves; .740 Sv%; 13 GA
NEXT UP:
The Colorado Mammoth (4-4) will face their West Division rivals the San Diego Seals (2-5) for the first ever NLL game to be played in Las Vegas, NV, on Saturday February 1, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Look for some explosive action in this contest.
The Buffalo Bandits (4-1) will host their East Division rivals the Rochester Knighthawks (1-5) at KeyBank Centre on Friday January 31, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. This is the first meeting of these two teams and look to see the Knighthawks give Buffalo a battle.
Di Miller, Correspondent Colorado Mammoth
Lacrosse is Awesome©