Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Toronto Rock (8-5) visited the Halifax Thunderbirds (5-8) Friday night at Scotiabank Centre in Halifax for the first game of the NLL’s 40th Anniversary weekend. Toronto entered the night inside the playoff picture, while Halifax remained just outside looking in. With the “March to May” push underway, both teams understood the importance of the matchup.
In a back-and-forth contest where neither team led by more than two goals, Halifax was fueled by a massive performance from Clarke Petterson (3G, 7A) while Warren Hill (14GA, 41SV) anchored the defense in net. Even a two-goal Thunderbirds lead with 7:51 remaining in the fourth quarter wasn’t enough to put Toronto away.
Challen Rogers (2G, 2A) continued his recent offensive surge, tying the game and eventually giving Toronto a late lead. Halifax answered with a dramatic equalizer to force overtime. Nick Rose (13GA, 45SV) came up with several key saves in the extra frame before Josh Dawick (3G, 1A) buried the golden goal nearly six minutes into overtime. Final Score: Toronto Rock – 14, Halifax Thunderbirds – 13
The scoring started slowly. Halifax broke the scoreless tie 4:34 into the first quarter when Will MacLeod (1G, 1A) slipped free on a crease cut and finished a perfect feed from Austin Blumbergs (1A). The Thunderbirds doubled their lead more than five minutes later when Mike Robinson (3G, 1A) buried a rebound from a Jake Withers (1A) transition shot. Toronto then caught fire with three straight goals. Dan Craig (1G, 1A) ripped a missile to the stick-side top corner with 3:47 remaining. Just over a minute later, Josh Jackson (1G) tied the game with a transition finish following a slick passing sequence. With only 19 seconds left in the quarter, Dawick bounced home his first goal of the night to give Toronto its first lead. Halifax answered immediately. With just one second left, Petterson finished a full-turf clear from Ryan Terefenko (2A) to even the score. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto and Halifax were tied 3-3.
Mark Matthews (1G, 3A) opened the second quarter scoring with a top-corner transition strike, and Owen Hiltz (3G, 1A) extended Toronto’s lead to two shortly after. Halifax responded again. Petterson scored his second goal of the night with a slick roll dodge and underhand release, and Brendan Bomberry (2G, 2A) tied the game on the power play minutes later. With the game knotted at five, Latrell Harris (1G, 3A) restored the Toronto lead late in the half with a bouncing transition shot through traffic. The goal marked the 100th point of Harris’s career. At the half, Toronto led Halifax 6-5.
The third quarter remained tight but turned increasingly physical, leading to several power-play opportunities. Both teams capitalized on their extra-man chances. Jason Knox (1G, 1A) opened the scoring with a power-play blast after a broken set, but Hiltz answered less than a minute later. Petterson completed his hat trick with 7:35 remaining, tying the game again. On Halifax’s next power play, Cody Jamieson (2G, 1A) danced through the defense to give the Thunderbirds their first lead since the opening quarter. Toronto quickly answered. Chris Boushy (1G, 2A) quick-sticked a pass from Craig behind the net to tie the game, and moments later Dawick converted a power play opportunity to restore Toronto’s advantage. Halifax refused to let the Rock carry the lead into the break. With 15 seconds remaining, Robinson finished a spectacular behind-the-back shot to tie the game once again. At the end of the third quarter, Toronto and Halifax were tied 9-9.
Hiltz wasted no time reigniting the offense to start the fourth quarter, streaking off the bench and firing a sidearm shot to the top corner. Jamieson answered 27 seconds later, cutting to the crease and finishing in close. Halifax then seized momentum. Curtis Romanchych (1G) scored in transition, and Robinson completed his hat trick moments later to give Halifax a 12-10 lead. Toronto responded with composure. Sam English (1G, 2A) spun free at the top of the floor and beat Hill with a low shot to cut the deficit. With 2:02 remaining, Rogers danced into space and ripped an outside shot to tie the game. On the next Toronto possession, Rogers struck again, giving the Rock a 13-12 lead with 1:28 left. Halifax had one final push. With the extra attacker on the floor, Bomberry dove across the crease and scored with 22 seconds remaining, sending the crowd into a frenzy and the game to overtime. At the end of the fourth quarter, Toronto and Halifax were tied 13-13.
The overtime period started with back-and-forth possessions. Both teams wanted this win and it showed. Finally, after nearly six minutes of action, Dawick planted his lead foot and fired a sidearm bounce shot for the game winner. The goal was his first career overtime winner. Final Score: Toronto Rock – 14, Halifax Thunderbirds – 13.
Up Next:
The Toronto Rock (8-5) host the Saskatchewan Rush on Friday, March 20 at 7:30 PM EDT.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (5-8) travel to play the Georgia Swarm on Friday, March 20 at 7:30 PM EDT.