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NLL Colorado Mammoth

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March 6, 2004 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


Denver, Colo. – The Colorado Mammoth stayed atop the National Lacrosse League standings with another one-goal win at Pepsi Center Saturday afternoon, beating the Philadelphia Wings 13-12.

Gavin Prout's seven points (3g, 4a) led the Mammoth (9-2) followed by Gary Gait's four points (2g, 2a) and rookie Brad Self's four assists. Rookie Curtis Smith notched his first two NLL career goals (2g, 1a).

In a league milestone, veteran goaltender Dallas Eliuk, in goal for the Wings, recorded his 5,000th save at 2:36 of the second quarter

In a team milestone, the Mammoth sold 18,039 tickets to Saturday's matinee, for the team's fourth consecutive sellout this season.

"This was a hard-fought win," Colorado Mammoth general manager Steve Govett said. "Our fans spent a Saturday afternoon watching some of the best the NLL has to offer."

Prout's spectacular season just keeps getting better. The forward from Whitby, Ontario, an unknown to Colorado Mammoth fans before the team signed him prior to this season, scored the game-winning goal with 1:47 left in the game. Prout took on the entire Wings defense, forcing his way into the middle where he scored with a hard shot to left post.

Prout's talents went largely unnoticed when he played for the New York Saints, who, before folding over the summer, were perennial National Lacrosse League doormats. But this year in Colorado Prout has vaulted to the top of the NLL scoring race. He now has a league-best 69 points on the season.

With the victory Colorado improved to 9-2, extending its lead to two games over San Jose (6-3) in the Western Division. Colorado also holds a two-game lead over Buffalo (7-4) for the NLL's best record. The Mammoth win was the team's eighth one-goal game of the season. The Mammoth is 6-2 in those games.

"When it comes to clutch time, there are at least five players we can go to," Prout said. "We've found a way to get the job done."

Del Halladay added two goals with Brian Langtry, Ben Prepchuk, Jamie Hanford and John Gallant also scoring for Colorado. Gee Nash improved to 8-2 on the year with 47 saves.

Tom Marechek, Jake Bergey and Jeff Ratcliffe led Philadelphia with three goals apiece. Dallas Eliuk made 41 saves for the Wings and took the loss.

Prepchuk opened the scoring in the second half, slipping behind the Wings defense before beating Eliuk to the right side to give the Mammoth a 6-4 lead. Philadelphia answered with three goals in 19 seconds to take the lead for the first time since it was 1-0. Bergey kept the Wings run going with his second goal of the game, extending their advantage to 8-6.

The Mammoth rallied, scoring four of the next five goals – including both of Smith's – to take a 10-9 lead into the fourth quarter.

Hanford then scored to put the Mammoth up by two before the Wings tied it with goals from Marechek and Spencer Martin. Gallant made it 12-11 for the Mammoth with a perfect shot to the upper corner before Bergey's equalizing goal preceded Prout's heroics.

Gait put the Mammoth on top 2-1 with a goal 25 seconds into the second quarter. Halladay extended the lead 17 seconds later when he cut into the low slot and converted a perfect feed from Prout. After winning the ensuing faceoff the Mammoth ran the same exact play, but this time Prout was the beneficiary, taking the feed from Langtry and slipping it past Eliuk.

Philadelphia started the scoring when Marechek scored with 5:14 remaining in the first quarter. Langtry answered less than two minutes later with a power-play goal that tied the game 1-1.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 6, 2004


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