NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth fall short

Published on April 17, 2010 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - The Colorado Mammoth lost another home game, 9-7, to the Boston Blazers in front of 15,104 fans Friday night at Pepsi Center. Despite being the first time Colorado has ever faced Boston, the two teams played like long-time rivals, fighting like cats and dogs on Animal Lovers' Night. The Mammoth came into the night having chased three consecutive starting goalies from net in the last three games. With an offense that seemed to be gelling a bit more as of late, Colorado had been averaging 12 goals per game over its last five games.

Boston's defense proved to be too much for the peaking Colorado offense on this night however, holding the Mammoth to just seven goals in the contest. Boston rode a dominating performance from forward Dan Dawson who contributed eight points on the night. The loss eliminates Colorado from 2010 playoff contention, while Boston improves to 8-7 on the season.

In what proved to be a low-scoring first quarter, neither team drew net for over 10 minutes. Boston finally got on the board at the 10:47 mark with a goal from Daryl Veltman. Veltman's score was followed by another Blazer goal at the 13:37 mark by Jamie Rooney. The Mammoth could not muster a goal despite multiple scoring chances and Boston had a 2-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Mammoth picked up the offensive intensity in the second with an early transition goal from Jed Prossner. Colorado defenseman Chris McKay connected with the streaking Prossner on a pass that stretched nearly half the length of the field for an easy bounce-shot goal. Boston quickly answered just 28 seconds later with a goal from Dawson. Colorado narrowed the Boston lead to just one with a controversial, fast break goal from forward Alex Gajic. Gajic caught the transition pass then ripped a shot. The ball hit the pipe, then deflected off the back of the goalie's leg, then danced right along the goal line before the Blazers picked up the loose ball. The officials initially ruled it a no-goal. Mammoth Head Coach Bob Hamley opted to throw the challenge flag and review of the play. Upon further review, the refs decided that the play had resulted in a goal. During a halftime review, however, the referees determined that the ball did not cross the goal line. The goal was ultimately stripped from the Mammoth bringing the halftime score to 3-1.

The pace increased to start the second half as the Blazers scored two unanswered goals, including a short-handed goal. Colorado then picked up some momentum with a power play goal from forward Jamie Shewchuk at the 8:26 mark. On the ensuing faceoff, Cliff Smith scooped up the loose ball then beat the Boston defense in a foot race to bounce in a goal. Boston's Dawson silenced the crowd however, completing a hat trick at the 10:34 mark. Colorado scored the final goal of the quarter as Prossner tallied his second of the night just 26 seconds later to bring the score to 6-4 going into the final frame.

The Mammoth caught a lucky break to start the fourth quarter as Boston goalie Anthony Cosmo was called for an illegal equipment penalty between periods to allow the Mammoth to start the quarter with a power play. Mammoth forward Alex Gajic promptly scored a power play goal. Shewchuk followed three minutes later with a dive-shot goal at the 4:15 mark. Dawson answered with another goal at the 5:48 mark to take back the lead. Momentum swung back in Colorado's favor as defenseman Rich Catton capitalized on a fast break, bouncing a goal home to tie the score again with less than six minutes remaining in the game. The Colorado defense could not hold back the Boston offense as Dawson added another goal, his fifth of the night. Boston's Jon Harnett scored an insurance goal in the closing minutes to bring the final tally to 9-7.

Colorado will play its final game of the season Friday, April 23 at 7pm at Pepsi Center as it takes on the Calgary Roughnecks on Fan Appreciation Night.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 17, 2010


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