Clutch Play In The Cards For Secore And Powell
May 5, 2010 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---The Edmonton Rush won't hold cards too close to the vest during the playoffs. With both an Ace and King in the deck in Rush forwards Ryan Ward and Gavin Prout -- the club's also hit Blackjack with the clutch play of marksman Andy Secore, and Number 22 Ryan Powell is no bust, either.
Secore, Number 21 for the black and silver attack, went all-in last weekend as the Rush defeated their provincial rival Calgary Roughnecks 11-7 in a National Lacrosse League West Division semifinal and with the victory, Edmonton advances to the division finals against the Washington Stealth this Saturday at The Key Arena in Seattle, Wash.
Against the Roughnecks though, the left-handed sniper had a five-point (2G, 3A) effort, including the game-winning-goal, to propel Edmonton into the next playoff round.
Secore secured the lead with two fourth quarter tallies with his clutch play down the stretch. His first, on the power-play, put Edmonton up 8-6 and then he sniped his second to increase Edmonton's lead and the club never looked back.
"It was definitely a nice feeling to score some goals there," he said. "The first few quarters were tight out there, then I was able to get a couple in the fourth."
As the Rush trumped the defending champions out of the playoffs, Edmonton's next stop is a battle against the Stealth for the West Division crown this Saturday in Seattle after Washington advanced with a 14-10 decision over the Minnesota Swarm in the first round.
The Rush and Stealth were fairly evenly matched throughout the regular campaign, although Edmonton went 2-1 against the division-leading Stealth, including two barn-burners in April that Edmonton both grabbed after dropping their season opener at Washington.
Anything can happen in the single elimination matchup and Secore -- ranked third on the Rush with 56 points scored this year -- including a team-high seven power-play goals, wants to continue Edmonton's run for the Champion's Cup, Rush-style.
"I'm just looking to do whatever the team needs me to do," said the 26-year-old product of Hamilton, Ont., "Whether it's setting picks, scoring goals or feeding the ball, I'll do whatever it takes."
Secore, who had two six-point efforts against the Stealth this season, carries 17 playoff points in five career games into Saturday's contest, expects the Rush to continue their strong team effort.
"We work as a unit out there, we have no big superstars," he said. "Our offense is very balanced as we have lots of weapons out there."
With Ward and Prout leading the club offensively both in the regular season and especially last week in Calgary, the Rush attack also features the prowess of Secore, Dean Hill, Corey Small and Powell.
"We are quite balanced up there," Secore said of the club's loaded deck up front. "They're (Washington) going to have a hard time shutting us down because we can really move the ball around.
"They have some big defenders, who'll try to shut us down, but I think we can find ways to get open. We'll stick to our game plan and have to be ready to go."
And expect Powell to get a little extra attention on the carpet from Washington in Seattle.
The 32-year-old from New York, had 51 points this year and his 21 goals were fourth-best on the Rush, however it's his remarkable play down the stretch against the Stealth, that had Washington shaking their heads.
Powell, who had four assists last week versus Calgary, fired five goals, including both game winners, in the final two games played against the Stealth in April, as the Rush emerged with two hard-fought wins.
"Obviously, it was nice to contribute with the game winners, but it's all about getting the victories for the team and that's what I'm most happy about," he said. "They'll be keying on all our guys, but they may be a little more aware of me because of the success I've had against them this year.
"They've had a couple of tough losses against us, so they're going to be chomping at the bit to get right after us and we have to match that intensity and be ready to go."
The Rush can advance to the Champion's Cup with a victory over Washington and Powell credits the composure of Edmonton going into the contest after last weekend's success at Calgary.
"I think the one word that comes to mind is composure. When they (Calgary) almost caught up, we just keep plugging away and doing what we do," he said, acknowledging the exceptional play of netminder Matt Disher and the Rush defenders against Calgary.
And he expects that to continue against Washington in the divisional final.
"We have a lot of veterans guys and a very close team," Powell said. "We have a lot of guys that have played big games and we have a lot of guys that all they care about is winning and it's all because of the team."
Powell also sees some familiarity in Edmonton's playoff run this year with Portland's playoff success in 2008 that featured Powell, Brodie Merrill, Disher and other former Jax in front of Derek Keenan's former squad.
"There are some similarities, but this year is a totally different feel, though," Powell said. "The biggest resemblance is we're a confident group.
"In '08, we felt if we got into the playoffs, we had the team that could do it and I think for the team we have this year, I feel we can do it.
"But, we've got a huge game this weekend," he added. "That's the biggest challenge that we have at this point."
Time to deal the cards.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 5, 2010
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