Stealth Shoot Down Rush Winning Streak
Published on March 5, 2017 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Saskatchewan Rush News Release
Langley, BC- The Saskatchewan Rush had their six-game winning streak snapped as the Vancouver Stealth scored three unanswered goals in the fourth quarter to lift them to a 13-9 win on Saturday night.
With less than four seconds to go in the third quarter, the Rush's Robert Church gunned a shot under the crossbar past Stealth netminder Tye Belanger for his second goal of the night to pull Saskatchewan to within one at 10-9. But it was the last bit of offensive momentum the Rush would manage in large part as Belanger kept them at bay and totaled 55 saves.
Just over a minute into the fourth quarter, Rush defenceman Mike Messenger was called for an illegal body check major penalty and game misconduct that put the Stealth on a five-minute power play. Logan Schuss' hot shot from outside on the man-advantage gave Vancouver an 11-9 lead. Three minutes later, Corey Small, the NLL's leading scorer, sent a wicked side-arm shot inside the far post to put the Stealth up by three. The Stealth locked up the result when Justin Salt, who had already scored on a shorthanded breakaway, forced a turnover, went in all alone again and whipped a shot past Rush goalie Aaron Bold.
Five different scorers struck for the Rush in the opening quarter and paced Saskatchewan to a 5-3 advantage. Jeff Cornwall and Church scored 1:12 apart to get the Rush rolling. Church's goal was a terrific individual effort as he stole a rebound off the stick of Belanger, and while falling to the turf, he was able to sling the ball right to the top corner of the net. Ben McIntosh then finished a pass from Cornwall for a quick-strike tally to put the Rush up 3-1. Adrian Sorichetti, with a rocket coming off a screen, and the first of of two on the night from Adam Jones as he was left wide open in the slot, kept Saskatchewan up by a pair.
After being robbed by a disallowed goal on a crease violation, Curtis Knight got his goal back when he came around a screen and gunned a shot behind Belanger. The two teams hit halftime tied 6-6 after Joel McCready's tally in transition brought the Stealth even.
The teams traded goals early in the third quarter before the Stealth went on a three-goal run that was highlighted by their second shorthanded goal of the night on Salt's breakaway effort. Saskatchewan did get that shorthanded goal back, though, when Rush rookie Ryan Keenan scored 56 seconds later on the same power-play opportunity as his quick-stick strike was set up on a slick pass from McIntosh.
Ben McIntosh (1 goal, 3 assists), Jeff Cornwall (1 goal, 3 assists) and Mark Matthews (4 assists) all finished atop the Rush scoring with four points.
The Rush are back on their home turf at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon next Saturday night when they host the Colorado Mammoth.
National Lacrosse League Stories from March 5, 2017
- Stealth Earn First Home Victory - Vancouver Stealth
- Stealth Shoot Down Rush Winning Streak - Saskatchewan Rush
- Georgia Swarm Falls to Calgary in Tough Road Loss - Georgia Swarm
- CALGARY ROUGHNECKS Calgary Roughs up Out-Of-Town - Calgary Roughnecks
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