Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Toronto Rock (3-5) travelled to Colorado on Saturday night February 1, 2025, to face the Mammoth (5-4) for the first time since 2019. Toronto came into the game on a two-game winning streak after dropping their first five games, while Colorado came in with a record of 5 – 3 after defeating Rochester last week. Colorado leads the overall series 8 -4. The game included non-stop action throughout with the Mammoth carrying a three-goal lead into the second half, but the Rock would outscore the Mammoth five to two in the second half sending the game to OT. It took almost half of the first OT period before the winner was determined with Josh Dawick (4G) scoring the GWG sending the Rock home with their third win in a row. Final Score OT: Rock 9—Mammoth 8.
Toronto opened the scoring less than four minutes into the first. While on the power play, Tom Schreiber (1G, 3A) made a behind the back pass to Dawick and his side arm shot beat Dillon Ward (55 saves) over the stick shoulder getting them on the board, 1 – 0 for the Rock. Both teams went up and down the floor for the next eight minutes until Ryan Lee (3G, 3A) took a side arm shot around his defender, it went off of the goal post, hit Nick Rose’s (41 saves) back and went into the net to tie the game at one. A minute later Chris Boushy (2G) spun on his defender, dove across the crease and went far side to make it 2 – 1 for the Rock. At the end of the first quarter the shots on goal were Toronto 16 and Colorado 8.
One minute into the second quarter, Connor Kelly (2G, 2A) came over the top and his high-to-high jump shot went over the shoulder into the top corner tying the game at two. Colorado would put up two more each about three minutes apart. Connor Robinson (2G, 2A) copied Kelly, came across the top and his high-to-high shot would also go over the shoulder giving the Mammoth their first lead of the game at 3 – 2. Eli McLaughlin (1G, 1A) would cap off the run with a face dodge on his defender and his bounce shot went five-hole doubling up the Colorado lead 4 – 2. The run would end a minute later. Dan Craig attempted a shot, the rebound went behind the net, Boushy was in the right spot, scooped the loosie, dove in front and dunked it through the legs of Ward cutting the Mammoth lead to 4 – 3. Colorado would close out the frame, the first on a power-play and the only one they’d tally all night. Kelly took a shot from the top left side and his high to low shot went short side to regain the two-goal lead for Colorado at 5 – 3 with three minutes left in the first half. They’d tally a buzzer beater with less than a second left in the half. Kelly passed the ball to Lee and while diving, his sidearm shot beat Rose over the shoulder far side to make it 6 – 3 at the end of the first half. The shots at the end of the first half were Toronto 31 and Colorado 24.
Toronto would control the third outscoring Colorado 3-1. Fifteen seconds into the second half, Challen Rogers (1G) grabbed the loose ball, went in on Ward and his bounce shot went far side to cut the Mammoth lead to 6 – 4. Two minutes later as the 30 second clock was about to expire; Robinson took a side arm bounce shot from far out and went far side to make it 7 – 4 for Colorado. The fans would see some exciting back and forth action with both netminders stopping shot after shot. It took almost six minutes before the stalemate came to an end. Dawick came down the left side and his sidearm shot went over the far shoulder to make it 7 – 5 for Colorado. Once again, neither side could find twine with another six ticking off the timer. Then with 54 seconds in the third and while on the power play, Dan Craig (1G, 3A) picked up a loose ball near center, ran straight in all alone and beats Ward over the glove shoulder cutting the Mammoth lead to 7 – 6. The shots at the end of the third quarter were Toronto 44 and Colorado 32.
The defensive battle ensued into the fourth. Less than 30 seconds in, Lee took a step down high to high shot that went over the far shoulder to reestablish the two goal Mammoth lead to make it 8 – 6. For the remaining 14:32 Colorado was kept out of the net while Toronto was able to break through the Ward wall. With 8:52 left in the contest, while on the power play, Dawick would notch his hat trick goal on a low-to-low shot to the far corner and they were within one, 8 – 7. Less than 10 seconds later TD Ierlan would win his 17th faceoff on the night, fed to Schreiber who put a bounce shot five hole tying the game at eight with 8:47 left in the fourth. Both teams had multiple chances in the last eight and change, but both goalies continued to stand on their heads making great save after great save. The clock would wind down giving the fans some bonus lacrosse. Score at the end of four: Rock 8—Mammoth 8.
Both teams went back and forth in OT with each of them having chances, but neither could end the game. Over six minutes into the OT period Dawick would cut under his defender and his bounce shot to the short side beat Ward low for the winning goal. The shots at the end of the game were Toronto 65 and Colorado 47. Final Score OT: Rock 9—Mammoth 8.
The Three Stars of the game were:
Josh Dawick – Toronto Rock: 4G including the OT winner
Ryan Lee – Colorado Mammoth: 3G, 3A
Dillon Ward – Colorado Mammoth: 55 saves
GAME STATS:
Toronto Rock—SOG 66; Saves 39; Sv% .830; FO 19-20; PP 3-5; PIM 15
Colorado Mammoth—SOG 47; Saves 57; Sv% .864; FO 1-20; PP 1-5; PIM 15
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (3-5) will host the San Diego Seals (3-4) at Paramount Fine Foods Centre on Saturday February 8, 2025, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the action on TSN+. All games are also televised on NLL+.
The Colorado Mammoth (5-4) head to Gas South Arena to face the Georgia Swarm (4-3) on Friday February 7, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the action on TSN+. All games are also televised on NLL+.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©