Rush Forward Loewen on Season Track

February 6, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Edmonton Rush News Release


Edmonton, AB--Like the team he plays for, Riley Loewen had a bit of a slow start to the 2015 National Lacrosse League season.

But with two straight wins Loewen and the Edmonton Rush are back on the right track headed towards top spot in West Division. Next stop ... Denver and the division-leading Colorado Mammoth for a home-and-home series beginning Friday the 13th in the Mile High City before concluding in the City of Champions on Sunday, Feb. 15.

While it's very early in the campaign and there are two more games left in the regular season against the Mammoth, these two games could go a long way in settling which of the teams will get home-turf advantage come playoff time. There's also no love lost between the Rocky Mountain rivals so any ground gained now is less that will have to be retrieved later on.

"Colorado is a great team and they won't go down easy, so these next two are very big," said Loewen. "We are just trying to concentrate on getting better each game and I think we've done a good job of that the last two games."

The Rush have been much better since their 0-2 start especially the miserable setback of surrendering nine fourth-quarter goals against Minnesota in their home-opener. Since then the Rush have whipped the backsides of the Calgary Roughnecks and New England Black Wolves to move within a game of the Mammoth who were off to unbeaten start until getting shot down by the Vancouver Stealth last weekend.

It's certainly no coincidence that the Rush's return to winning ways has corresponded with the return of GM/Head Coach Derek Keenan behind the bench. But, Loewen noted, credit deserves to be spread out.

"Obviously Keenan is a huge part of this team and having him back is a big part in our recent success, but also our leadership group really rallied our group and got us back to that winning mentality," said the Burnaby, B.C., product who was Edmonton's second-round pick (11th overall) in the 2013 NLL Entry Draft.

Loewen made a solid impact in his rookie season, settling into 15 of the Rush's 18 regular-season games and notching 36 points. Of his 17 goals, three came on the power play and two were game-winners, all of which propelled him to receiving the Rush's Rookie of the Year honor.

Like the team, Loewen's start to 2015 wasn't great, but he's since picked up his play including a five-point effort against Calgary featuring the Rush's first shorthanded goal of the season. Comfort and confidence have been keys in the Rush, and in turn Loewen's, turnaround. The Rush have returned to utilizing a roster that brought them success a year ago. For Loewen, that means being one of three, instead of four, lefty shooters in the lineup alongside Zack Greer and Mark Matthews.

"I wasn't surprised by my rookie year," said Loewen, who came to the Rush from Limestone College. "I knew what I could bring to the team and having played with a bunch of the guys already in the summer leagues, I was confident.

"I think this year I have a little more confidence in my game, having my rookie season under my belt now. I worked on my outside game during the summer and really tried to improve that."

The Rush this weekend are off the field again with another bye. The Rush will travel to Denver next Friday, February 13 for the first away-home regular season series with divisional rivals the Colorado Mammoth. The Rush currently at .500, 2-2, return to Crystal Glass Field at Rexall Place, Faith and Family Day, Sunday, February 15 at 2:00 pm against the Colorado Mammoth, presented by Christenson Developments and Avision Young, all kids 12 and under get in FREE courtesy of Booster Juice .



National Lacrosse League Stories from February 6, 2015


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