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NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth offense struggles in loss

April 3, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - For the first time in over two months, the Colorado Mammoth lost a game at home on HealthONE Field on Friday night. The Rochester Knighthawks outlasted Colorado 12-8 in front of 16,834 fans for BLACKOUT Night at Pepsi Center. With the loss, the Mammoth season record dips below .500 at 6-7, but the team remains in third place in the West Division thanks to a Minnesota loss to San Jose. Rochester, playing without former Mammoth player and head coach, Gary Gait, evens their record at 6-6 on the year.

The first quarter - and most of the first half - was one of missed opportunities for Colorado. Unable to connect with 10 shots on goal, nor take advantage of four Rochester penalties, including a penalty shot, the Mammoth trailed 1-0 after the first period of play. The only score coming on a Jamie Rooney goal for the Knighthawks at the 2:51 mark of the quarter.

Rochester pushed the lead out to 4-1 with three unanswered scores in the second quarter. Dean Hill, Joe Walters and Craig Point all tallied netters for the Knighthawks in the period. Gary Rosyski drew rope for the Mammoth with 2:37 remaining in the quarter and the Pepsi Center lights blacked out for the first time of the evening as a part of the BLACKOUT Night festivities. Shawn Williams, however, would tack on a fifth goal for Rochester as time expired in the first half and they would take a 5-1 lead into the break.

The third quarter saw Colorado put a Brian Langtry score - his 29th of the season - and two Gavin Prout goals on the board to trim the Knighthawks' lead to 7-4 by the end of the frame. Chris Schiller and Jamie Rooney scored for Rochester within two minutes of each other in the quarter to keep the visitors out front.

Gary Rosyski netted his second goal of the night just 46 seconds into the fourth quarter as the final frame started off quickly for Colorado. That score brought the Mammoth within two at 7-5. Rosyski added his hat-trick goal at the 11:41 mark as Brian Langtry also scored on a rebound shot off the glass to cut the lead to 8-7 and the momentum clearly swung to the home team with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

But then, even with the Pepsi Center faithful cheering on their boys in Black, Rochester put the game away over the next six minutes with three unanswered goals - two by Shawn Evans - to stretch their insurmountable lead to 11-7. Each team would add meaningless goals in the final two minutes, and the final score would be 12-8 Knighthawks.

Colorado was led in scoring by Brian Langtry. His five-point night included a hat-trick and two assists. Gary Rosyski added his hat-trick and assist, while Gavin Prout finished with a pair of goals and an assist. Josh Sims, returning to action from retirement this night, finished with one assist and a team-high nine loose balls for the Mammoth. He was also 3-for-3 on face-offs. Andy Leyshon, stellar in net for Colorado, made 35 saves on the night.

"You can't muster only one goal in the first half of a game like this and expect to win many of them," said Mammoth Head Coach Bob McMahon following the loss. "Our defense was playing well; we just weren't getting anything from our offense early on."

Rochester was led by Shawn Evans' eight-point night (3 goals, 5 assists). Chris Schiller and Shawn Williams each tallied two goals and two assists each for the Knighthawks. Pat O'Toole, splendid in net for Rochester, allowed only the eight goals on 48 Colorado shots.

Colorado travels to Portland tomorrow night, Saturday, April 4, to take on the second-place LumberJax in an 8:30pm (MDT) contest. The next home game for the Mammoth is Saturday, April 11 when the San Jose Stealth visits Pepsi Center for Family Night at 7pm. Tickets for that game, and all Mammoth home games, are on sale now at the Pepsi Center box office, all Ticketmaster retail centers, online at Ticketmaster.com and by phone at 303.830.TIXS or 719.520.9090.

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