NLL Colorado Mammoth

Mammoth robs Bandit's firepower in 11-8 win

Published on January 23, 2005 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER – The first standing-room-only crowd of the season had plenty of reasons to get on its feet and cheer Saturday night at Pepsi Center.

The Colorado Mammoth scored the game's final three goals to pull away from the Buffalo Bandits and earn an 11-8 victory before 18,137 fans.

Mammoth captain Gary Gait and Buffalo forward John Tavares did not disappoint in the matchup of the National Lacrosse League's top two all-time leading scorers. Gait led all players on the scoresheet with seven points on two goals and five assists. Tavares led Buffalo with three goals and added two helpers.

Tavares scored the only goal of the third quarter and opened the scoring in the fourth with a blast from 15 feet out that tied the game at eight. Colorado's Chris Panos answered for the Mammoth, one-timing home the game-winner off a quick pass from Gavin Prout to make it 9-8.

Chris Prat, who led the Mammoth (2-1) with three goals, scored his last of the game just 39 seconds later to push Colorado's lead to 10-8. Prout followed with his only goal of the night to conclude the game's scoring.

Dan Stroup and Panos each scored twice for Colorado and Mark Miyashita had one goal. Gee Nash backed a terrific defensive effort by the Mammoth with 46 saves and earned his second victory of the season.

Jonas Derks added two goals for the Bandits (1-2) and Mark Steenhuis, Pat McCready and rookie Delby Powless each scored once. Goaltender Steve Dietrich made 41 saves in the loss.

Late in the second quarter Stroup picked up a rebound and stuffed it through Dietrich's legs to give the Mammoth an 8-5 lead, but Tavares scored his first goal 21 seconds later to cut the Mammoth lead to two goals at halftime.

After Steenhuis tied it at three early in the second quarter Colorado answered with two goals 30 seconds apart. First Miyashita picked up Jamie Hanford's faceoff and went in alone for the score then Gait finished a pretty play after taking a 40-foot pass from Nick Carlson and beating Dietrich.

The Mammoth's first-quarter scores came on power-play goals by Panos and Stroup.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 23, 2005


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