Buffalo gets revenge
April 10, 2005 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release
CALGARY - The Calgary Roughnecks walked away short-handed Saturday night after losing to the Buffalo Bandits 9-14 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in front of 10,183 fans.
The Roughnecks, who have already clinched a home playoff game, were itching to win the night's game since they were one win away from the 2005 coveted title of West Division Champions of the National Lacrosse League.
Although the night's game was a rematch of last year's Champions Cup Final between the two teams, in which Calgary won 14-11, Buffalo took the lead late in the game and turned the 'necks promising win around. A Calgary win would have also given the Roughnecks a first round bye.
This is the first time the two teams have met since last May 7. Both teams held identical records going into the night's game, with 9 wins and 5 losses each. The Roughnecks are now 9-6 in the 2004-05 season.
With both teams off to a slow start, it looked like the first quarter was going to end scoreless until Roughnecks captain Tracey Kelusky opened the scoring on a power play 9:44 into the game.
Kelusky, who is suffering from a knee infection, was deemed well enough to play not long before the Roughnecks took to the floor Saturday night.
And it didn't take long for Calgary to show Buffalo they meant business after they ended the first quarter 3-0 with points from both Andrew Biers and Ted Dowling.
The intense back and forth action kept spectators on the edge of their seats, after the Bandits put themselves on the scoreboard 38 seconds into the second quarter, bringing them within a few points of the ânecks.
But even after Buffalo started making their shots, the Roughnecks kept their wit about them and stayed ahead of their opponents.
By the end of the second, after goals from forwards Lewis Ratcliff, Ted Dowling and defenseman Andrew McBride, Calgary led in scoring 6-3.
It was evident within minutes of the third though that it was going to be a hard fought-out battle for the Roughnecks in Saturday's low scoring game, and that proved to be true when the Bandits came back and tied the game 6-6 only 5:29 into the third quarter.
It wasn't until late into the third that the action started to heat up and Buffalo started its uncontrollable comeback.
Although the Roughnecks seemed to fall into a scoring slump in the third quarter, it was now up to Calgary to get themselves back in the game in the fourth after Buffalo ended the third 8-9.
But a Roughnecks comeback looked bleak after the Bandits scored five back-to-back goals only minutes into the fourth.
And although the 'necks showed perseverance and strength late in the third with Ratcliff's goal, the Bandits ended the night with 9-14 victory over the home town favourites. Ted Dowling (2 goals), Lewis Ratcliff (2), Tracey Kelusky (1), Andrew Biers (1), Andrew McBride (1), Taylor Wray (1) and Kyle Goundrey (1) each scored for the Roughnecks during Saturday night's loss to the Bandits. Ratcliff added 3 assists, Curtis Palidor added two, Dowling, Kelusky, Biers, Wray, Goundrey, Brad MacDonald, Kaleb Toth and Rich Catton each added one assist in Saturday's game. The Roughnecks return to action Sunday, April 17 at 2 p.m. MT, wrapping up the regular season as they take on the Toronto Rock at the Saddledome.
• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...
National Lacrosse League Stories from April 10, 2005
- Rock refuse to lose - Toronto Rock
- Wings Rocked By Toronto 14-13 - Philadelphia Wings
- Toronto to Host 2006 All-Star Game - Toronto Rock
- Toronto to Host 2006 NLL All-Star Game - NLL
- Sting Down Colorado, 15-12, Clinch Playoff Berth - OSC Original by Andrew Nordmeier
- Anaheim Storm Fall Short in Overtime Against Minnesota - Anaheim Storm
- Rock Take Down Wings in Second Game of Series - Toronto Rock
- Buffalo gets revenge - Calgary Roughnecks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
