NLL Calgary Roughnecks

Calgary bows in fourth quarter

May 10, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Calgary Roughnecks News Release


CALGARY - Tonight the Roughnecks played hard, but the Lumberjax just wanted it a little more. The West Division concluded with Calgary bowing to Portland 16-12 with 9,327 lacrosse fans to witness. Portland for the first time since its franchise inception will succeed to the finals.

Portland opened the Western Division finals with Dan Dawson dumping one in the back of Calgary's net 1:06 in. Calgary's Jeff Shattler made sure to answer right back 49 seconds later. The first quarter saw both teams playing aggressively trying to take an early lead. Chris Seller was the first to warm up the penalty bench due to a call for holding.

The Jax were eager to dominate with Dawson scoring his second of the night but captain Tracey Kelusky was just as eager to retaliate with one of his own.

Peter Morgan swooped in with two goals taking the Portland lead to three goals. Scott Ranger taking a dive notched a fantastic goal for the Riggers. Goalie Steve Dietrich was on the ball, stopping some fierce Portland shots.

Dawson must have been hoping to achieve another career-high as he managed a hat trick 13:11 into the first, closing the quarter with Portland leading 6-3.

Kaleb Toth opened the second with a his first goal of the night, Curt Malawsky then loaded one into net to take the Portland lead down to just one goal. Portland net minder Matt Disher was replaced by Dallas Elluk due to an injury sending him to the bench for the rest of the game.

Portland's Derek Malawsky, brother to Calgary's Curt Malawsky, buried one and had Dawson follow up right behind him with his fourth goal. Shattler landed another one ending the first half with Calgary trailing 8-6.

Opening the third was Ranger with a goal 4:21 into the quarter. Toth then scored a goal tying game the second time bringing the score to 8-8. Ryan Powell, then showing his scoring muscle came in and scored his first of four goals. Shattler then marked his hat trick at 14:08, tying the score 9-9 to end the third.

The fourth saw the ‘Dome erupt with energy as Toth scored a hat trick and gave Calgary their first lead of the night but this was quickly disrupted as Morgan earned his third goal followed by Powell who gave Portland a one goal lead.

Portland took a two goal lead in the middle of the fourth with Morgan again connecting with the back of the net with Powell to quickly follow making it 13-10. Powell again found the net notching another goal leaving Calgary with a four goal deficit.

With six minutes left and a goalie change, Brodie Merrill landed another for Portland. Malawsky then valiantly brought one in bringing down the Jax lead to four goals only to have Dawson shove in another. Josh Sanderson scored the final goal of the night for Calgary ending the Western final with Calgary trailing 16-12.

Toth led Calgary with three goals and three assists, while Dawson notched an impressive five goals and five assists. Calgary had six goal scorers but was outmatched by the six goal scorers Portland produced.

Tonight marked the end of the Roughnecks campaign for the Champion's cup. The Portland Lumberjax will now be off to the East to take on the Buffalo Bandits.

The Bandits took out the New York Titans just previous to tonight's game winning 19-12. The Champion's cup final will be held at the HSBC arena in Buffalo on Saturday, May 17 where they will duke it out with the Lumberjax.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from May 10, 2008


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