Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jim Wells
On Saturday January 25, 2020 the Calgary Roughnecks (2-4) hosted the Halifax Thunderbirds (6-0) in front of 15,362 faithful Riggers fans. The 2019 NLL Champs were hoping to be the first to bring down the undefeated Thunderbirds and get back to their winning ways. Halifax took the “No Quit” attitude and their preparation paid off. On the other side, it wasn’t a good outing for the Roughnecks as they let it go in the second half and were unable to find the groove and would be the next in a series of victims and fall to the mighty Halifax squad. Final Score: Halifax 15—Calgary 12.
Out of the blocks the Roughnecks took an early lead on the effort of Tyler Pace (4g, 1a) the Third Star of the game; and Curtis Dickson (3g, 1a) before the Thunderbirds got on the board with an overhand shot Stephen Keogh’s from the point. Ending the first quarter Calgary had the momentum and energy with a score of 4-1.
The physicality of this game was what to be expected from great lacrosse players. Penalties weren’t a real issue as both teams were penalized equally, Calgary ended the night 1-3 on the power play.
A hard night on the face-offs with Calgary going 5-32 and it can be argued that face-offs are very important. Not to this guy, it’s a loose ball drill as Jake Withers from Halifax just can’t seem to be beat at the face-off dot once again.
Del Bianco was not as sharp this night; the ball was not bouncing his way stopping only 49 of 64 shots. Not being a tall keeper, Halifax capitalized on the openings above his shoulders. He is however a larger threat when he is 100% in the game. During the dressed warm up, the back of the net was found too often.
With Rhys Duch back in the line up, his leadership and intensity were much needed while their team captain Dane Dobbie serves out his six game suspension missing a third of the NLL season. Rhys is underutilized; and should be shooting more often from the point or shooter position.
The Calgary transition change seems to take longer eating time off the shot clock, making it difficult for the breaking man off the bench, and allowing the defense to set up.
Forty-five seconds into the second half Halifax scored three consecutive goals before Calgary responded with two. Opening things up the Thunderbirds responded with six unanswered goals to end the quarter. Score at the end of three: Halifax 12—Calgary 8.
Playing catch-up lacrosse is a difficult battle, made more difficult by Halifax occupying Calgary’s shooting lanes; and adding to that dropped and missed passes.
The bleeding began for the Roughnecks when Thunderbird’s Ryan Benesch received the go ahead goal. Although scoring four goals in the fourth, Calgary’s comeback was defeated by regulation time. Final Score: Halifax 15—Calgary 12.
Coach Malawsky’s Corner:
“They went on a four goal run and a seven goal run and when that happens, it’s catastrophic for us. It’s not good.”
“I like the compete, I like that the guys didn’t quit and I liked the effort from Dickson at the end there, it showed a lot of heart. We never stop playing and it’s been a rollercoaster type season for us this year. It is what it is and we’ve got New York in two weeks.”
“I’ll be honest with you, it takes all of training camp and probably five or six games for an offence to gel. If you have the six or seven same guys that you’re dressing every night; it was evident last year when we got King back last year and we went on a run and we were able to set our best every night. I’m not taking anything away from the kids battling, Herreweyers played good, (Dereck) Downs is giving us a lot of good effort out there and (Rhys) Duch is coming of off an injury and giving us everything he’s got. But offence is the last thing to gel and it takes time to get going.”
Quotes from the Thunderbirds:
“Offensively we started to move our feet and move the ball,” said Keogh. “We started taking smart shots and they started dropping for us.”
“It’s just offence by committee and everybody is just working for each other,” said Keogh. “We’re good when we are cutting through the middle and just opening up space for everybody.”
“There was no panic in this group, we knew we had the guys in the locker room to make a big comeback in the second half,” said Jake Withers.
TEAM STATS:
Halifax: 64 SOG; 24 SOFF; 86 LB; 27-32 FO; 2-3 PP
Calgary: 45 SOG; 20 SOFF; 66 LB; 5-32 FO: 1-3 PP
NEXT UP:
The Calgary Roughnecks (2-4) have the bye-week and will once again be the only West Division team to host both new expansion teams on their home turf. They will return to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday February 8, game time 9:30 p.m., EST Both teams are on losing streaks and one will break in two weeks.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (6-0) head to Toronto to face the North Division rivals the Rock (3-2) on Friday January 31, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. This will be the first meeting of the two teams this season. Can the Rock take down the mighty Thunderbirds? They are coming off a loss to the Bandits on January 18 and should have Tom Schreiber back in the line-up.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Correspondent Calgary Roughnecks
Lacrosse is Awesome©