Rock visits Rush
Published on January 17, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release
Edmonton, AB---Saturday's game marks the first of two meetings between the Canadian rivals and the fourth overall clash since the Rush joined the National Lacrosse League in 2006.
The teams will meet again on March 21 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
The Rush enter the game with an 0-1 record after opening the 2008 NLL season with a 14-11 loss to the Colorado Mammoth at the Pepsi Center in Denver last Friday. Three players had standout games for the Rush as Mike Accursi, Ben Prepchuk, and A.J. Shannon all tallied five points. Shannon had a first-half hat trick to pace the attack as the Rush rallied to come back from a 7-3 deficit. Accursi, playing in his first game with the Rush since an off-season trade from Rochester, scored on the power play and chipped in four assists. Prepchuk, playing against his former club for the first time since a trade during the summer, scored a pair of goals in the fourth quarter and added three helpers.
All of the Rush's newcomers factored into the scoring against Colorado. Kyle Goundrey, a free-agent pick up from Calgary, had a goal and an assist along with four loose balls, Mike Grimes and Chris Seller each picked up a point and Ian Hawksbee supplied two assists. Curtis Palidwor, the Rush's Team MVP a year ago, managed 41 saves.
Toronto's season is off to a slow start as they dropped both games in a home-and-home weekend series against the Minnesota Swarm. Josh Sanderson had a sock trick with six goals and Sherwood Park native Blaine Manning led the way with three goals and five assists but the Rock dropped their home opener when Ryan Cousins scored 1:27 into overtime giving the Swarm a 17-16 victory. One night later in St. Paul, the Rock had one of their worst offensive outputs in franchise history as they fell 11-4.
Thanks to a 50-save performance from Curtis Palidwor, the Rush won the only match up between Edmonton and Toronto last season. Jimmy Quinlan notched a hat trick while Randy Daly, Ryan O'Connor and Jamey Bowen all scored twice in the Rush's 12-9 win. The Rock had a balanced attack with Josh Sanderson, Ryan Benesch and Chad Thompson all potted two goals while Aaron Wilson had a goal and four assists.
That result gave the Rush their first victory over the five-time NLL champions following two disappointing losses in their inaugural season. Josh Sanderson had a career-best outing as he carved out 11 points on three goals and eight assists in the Rock's lopsided 14-8 win. The Rock's top guns were all firing as Blaine Manning and Colin Doyle both collected 10 points - Manning on a goal and nine assists and Doyle with three goals and seven helpers. Kevin Howard led the Rush with three goals.
A little more than two weeks later, the Rush dropped a 13-11 decision to the Rock in Edmonton despite two goals apiece from Jamey Bowen, Darren Hillier and Ted Jenner. The Rush led the game 11-10 with less than five minutes to go but Aaron Wilson notched his fourth goal of the night to level the score and pace the Toronto resurgence. Josh Sanderson had a goal and seven assists for the Rock while Colin Doyle picked up two goals and five assists.
National Lacrosse League Stories from January 17, 2008
- Jeff Zywicki Earns NLL Player of the Week Honors - San Jose Stealth
- Toronto coach suspended following post-game incident - NLL
- 1-0 Titans Ready for Buffalo Saturday - Orlando Titans
- Rock visits Rush - Edmonton Rush
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