Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Christian Bender
The Toronto Rock (7-4) completed their portion of the home and home games against the New York Riptide (2-8) after last week’s loss. This was the first home game in Hamilton with fans in the stands since December. The 7,920 people in the building were cheering loud right from the start of the game and it looked more like a hockey score rather than a lacrosse score after the first quarter. The scoring picked up from the second quarter on and the Rock rode a 6 goal run to take the rematch. Final Score: Rock 12—Riptide 9.
The Rock came out on fire in the first quarter taking 17 shots on Steve Orleman (45 saves) but he played very well and turned all of them aside. The Riptide would finally open the scoring just under the six minute mark when Dan Lomas (3G) took an outside overhand shot that bounced over Nick Rose’s (37 saves) shoulder into the top corner for a 1 – 0 lead. This was Lomas’ first game of the season after rehabbing an Achilles injury for most of the last year. Both defenses held the opposing offense in check during the frame with many blocked shots and forced turnovers. At the end of the first the shots on goal were completely lopsided Toronto 17—New York 4. Score at the end of one: Riptide 1—Rock 0.
Toronto was finally able to get one behind Orleman but it took just under 19 minutes into the game when they were on the power play and Tom Schreiber (1G, 2A) passed to Dan Craig (2G, 2A) and his over hand shot beat Orleman to the short side to tie the game at one. One minute later on some good ball movement, Zach Manns (2G) cut through the middle and received a pass from Rob Hellyer (2G, 2A) and beat Orleman over the shoulder to give Toronto their first lead 2 – 1. The Rock received another power play and this time while on transition Latrell Harris (1G, 1A) passed to Dan Dawson (2G, 4A) and got the return pass and his shot went between the legs to increase the Rock lead to 3 – 1. Former Toronto Rock player, Damon Edwards (1G), in his first game back in Toronto was on transition and beat his defender down low and dove across the crease and beat Rose between the legs to get the Riptide back within one goal at 3 – 2. The Rock responded quickly when they were on transition and Dawson came off of the bench, caught a pass from Mitch De Snoo (1G, 2A) and went stick side to make it 4 – 2. During the last minute of the first half the Rock scored their third in a row when Hellyer fired a laser from the outside to the top corner before Orleman could even move to make the stop. The first half ended with Toronto leading on shots 30 and New York 17. Score at the end of two: Rock 5—Riptide 2.
The Rock continued to pour it on in the second half when less than a minute in, as Schreiber received a pass from Hellyer and while on the run his sidearm shot beat Orleman to the short side extending the Rock lead to 6 – 2. A couple of minutes later while on defense, Brad Kri (1A) took the ball away from a New York player and started down the floor. While he was being taken down from behind he flipped the ball to Challen Rogers (1G) who’s twister shot beat Orleman to the short side extending the lead by five to make it 7 – 2. While shorthanded, Toronto’s Manns, took an overhand bounce shot that beat Orleman between the legs to make it a six goal lead at 8 – 2. New York would finally stop the run just over half way through the third when Jeff Teat (1G, 4A) received a pass as he cut through the middle of the floor, his BTB beat Rose over the shoulder making it 8 – 3. A minute later while on transition Ryan Fournier (1G, 1A) received a pass from Teat and beat Rose with a bounce shot to the short side making it 8 – 4 still in favor of the Rock. Toronto responded when Craig took a pass from Reid Reinholdt (3A) on a pick and roll and his sidearm beat Orleman to the short side to restore the five goal lead at 9 – 4. New York ended the scoring in the third quarter when on the power play, Larson Sundown (1G, 1A) was behind the net and dove forward beating Rose to the far side with a shot cutting the lead to four. The shots at the end of the third quarter still favored Toronto 45—New York 31. Score at the end of three: Rock 9—Riptide 5.
In the first minute of the fourth quarter, while on the power play, the Rock’s Dawson passed to Hellyer and his bounce shot beat Orleman to the far side to make it 10 – 5 for Toronto. Two minutes later while on transition, Harris passed to De Snoo who beat Orleman over the shoulder to the top corner widening the Rock lead to 11 – 5. New York responded 20 seconds later when Sundown passed to Connor Kearnan (1G, 1A) who was cutting though the middle and he beat Rose over the shoulder with a shot making it 11 – 6. Not too long after that Dawson got a pass from Schreiber and his shot beat Orleman to the far bottom corner to make it 12 – 6 for Toronto. For the next seven minutes both teams went up and down the floor trading chances but couldn’t find the back of the net. With less than five minutes left in the game Lomas cut towards the net and took a pass from Tyson Gibson (1A) and beat Rose with a low shot to make it 12 – 7. A minute later Lomas took an over hand shot from the outside that beat Rose to the stick side for his hat trick goal to reduce the Rock lead to 12 – 8. With less than two minutes left in the game Callum Crawford (1G, 5A) cut right down the middle of the floor and his bounce shot beat Rose to the top corner. This was as close as New York would get. The shots on goal at the end of the game were Toronto 57 and New York 46. Final Score: Rock 12—Riptide 9.
The Three Stars of the game were all named Dan!!
Dan Dawson—Toronto Rock: (2G, 4A) he also tied John Tavares for the most games played in the NLL with 306.
Dan Lomas—New York Riptide: (3G)
Dan Craig—Toronto Rock: (2G, 2A)
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (7-4) play their next game on March 12th as they visit Vancouver (5-5) to play the Warriors at 10:00 p.m. EST.
The New York Riptide’s (2-8) next game is also on Saturday March 12th as they visit the Rochester Knighthawks (3-7) at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©