Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Toronto Rock (9-2) travelled to the West Coast this weekend for a couple big road games. Friday night they played in Las Vegas, and Saturday they continue to San Diego. This was the first ever game against the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (4-7) for the Rock and some of their faithful fans joined the team to cheer them on in Sin City. Las Vegas started the game strong with five first half goals from Jack Hannah (6G), and were within two of Toronto at the half, but the strong play of Chris Boushy (7G, 4A) helped propel the Rock to a 16 – 11 victory. You did read that right, there was a sock trick on both sides of the ball last night. The win put Toronto in first place in the NLL, a half game ahead of the Albany Firewolves (8-2) who also play Saturday night. Final Score: Toronto-16, Las Vegas-11.
Las Vegas opened the scoring just over two minutes into the first quarter as Hannah fired a low to high side arm shot from the top that beat Nick Rose (27SV) to the top corner over the stick side shoulder. While on the power play halfway through the first quarter, the Desert Dogs took a two-goal lead as Hannah scored his second in a row with another low to high shot from the top corner. On a two man power-play the Rock cut the lead in half when Corey Small (1G, 6A) passed across the crease to Boushy and his quick stick beat Landon Kells (34 saves) to the short side. The Rock continued the power play and Mark Matthews (1G, 8A) cut across the top and his side arm shot beat Kells to tie the game at two. While in transition Justin Martin (1G, 1A) went down the middle of the floor and scored after receiving a pass from Brad Kri (3A) that gave Toronto their first lead of the game 3-2. The Rock were on another power play when Tom Schreiber (1G, 5A) passed the ball to Boushy behind the net before he dove forward and doubled the lead. Shots at the end of the first quarter were in favor of Toronto, 15-8. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto led Las Vegas 4-2.
Las Vegas opened the scoring in the second quarter when Casey Jackson (2A) found a cutting Jacob Ruest (1G, 1A) and his shot beat Rose to the short side to cut the Rock lead one just 2:58 in. Toronto regained the two-goal lead as Matthews passed across the floor to Schreiber and his low-to-low shot beat Kells through the legs to make it 5 – 3. The assist was Matthews 1000th career point and he became the 15th player in league history to achieve this feat. Toronto added to their lead when Small passed across the floor to Dan Lintner (1G, 1A) and his quick stick beat Kells to the stick side low. Just over a minute later, Schreiber faked a shot that brought Kells out to the top of his crease. A pass to Small and quick shot beat a diving Kells and it was 7 – 3 Toronto with 8:43 left in the half. While on a power play, Hannah fired a high-to-high shot that beat Rose over the shoulder for his hat trick goal, cutting the Rock lead to three. Soon after, Hannah came off the bench and received a pass from Rob Hellyer (1G, 6A). His shot from almost the restraining line beat Rose to the glove side to cut the Rock lead to two. Toronto came right back as Zack Kearney (1G) picked up a loose ball, cut around his defender, dove across the crease and beat Kells to the far side for his first NLL goal. On the next possession, Hellyer came from the boards towards the top and his sidearm low scored five hole for his first goal against the Rock, his former team. The Desert Dogs got to within one goal with two minutes left in the first half as Hannah cut through the middle and threw a twister shot for his fifth goal of the game. The Rock answered right back as Matthews passed to a cutting Boushy who beat Kells to the top corner for his hat trick goal. The shots on goal at the end of the first half were in favor of Toronto 28-16. At the half, Toronto led Las Vegas 9-7.
The Desert Dogs opened the scoring in the second half less than a minute in when Zack Greer (2G, 4A) fired a bounce shot to beat Rose over the shoulder and suddenly it was a one goal game, 9-8. Toronto replied right back as Josh Dawick (3G) scored with a sidearm shot. Dawick then scored his second in a row as he received a flip pass from Boushy before beating his defender on the way to a twister that increased the Rock lead to 11 – 8. Las Vegas responded when Greer cut towards the crease and dove across to beat Rose far side. Boushy then scored his fourth of the game from behind the net. Kells came out to challenge Small, but instead of shooting he passed to Boushy who was able to dive to the net before Kells returned. Toronto extended the lead to four as Matthews made a backhand flip pass to Dawick who scored his hat trick goal with an overhand shot. With the goalie pulled for an extra attacker in the last thirty seconds of the third quarter Dylan Watson (1G, 1A) took a low-to-low shot to beat Rose through the legs. The shots at the end of three quarters were in favor of Toronto 38-30. At the end of the third quarter, Toronto led Las Vegas 13-10.
The Rock increased their lead early in the fourth quarter when they had an extra player on the floor during a delayed penalty. Boushy got by his defender and dove towards the crease scoring his fifth of the game. While on a power play opportunity, Schreiber passed behind the net to Boushy who again dove forward and scored on Kells’ short side. With just under five minutes gone in the fourth quarter, Toronto now held a five goal lead. The Desert Dogs cut into the lead as Hannah scored his sixth goal of the game with a side arm shot that beat Rose to the stick side. With just over a minute left in the fourth quarter Boushy spun around his defender and yet again dove across the crease, scoring his seventh of the game and bringing us to our final. The shots on goal at the end of the game were in favor of Toronto 50-38. Final Score: Toronto-16, Las Vegas-11
3 STARS OF THE GAME:
Chris Boushy (Toronto) – 7 Goals and 4 Assists
Jack Hannah (Las Vegas) – 6 Goals
Mark Matthews (Toronto) – 1Goal and 8 Assists
UP NEXT:
The next game for the Toronto Rock (9-2) will be on Saturday March 2, when they travel to San Diego to play the San Diego Seals (8-3).
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (4-7) will travel to play the New York Riptide (5-6) on Saturday, March 9.