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NLL Colorado Mammoth

Stealth steal one from Mammoth in OT

April 11, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Colorado Mammoth News Release


DENVER - The San Jose Stealth earned their second win of the season over the Colorado Mammoth with an 11-10 victory on HealthONE Field at Pepsi Center on Saturday night. The Stealth move to 7-8 on the year, while the Mammoth falls to 6-9 - and into a tie for the fourth and final playoff spot in the West Division. Despite the loss, Colorado will make the playoffs with a victory over the Edmonton Rush next Friday at Pepsi Center.

The Mammoth jumped out to a 4-1 lead after one period of play. Led by Chris Gill's 12th goal of the season, Jamie Shewchuk's 18th goal of the year and two Brian Langtry goals (his 36th and 37th of the year), Colorado displayed the hustle and sense of urgency that a team fighting for a playoff berth needed.

With both teams needing this win to stay relevant in the playoff hunt, it was expected that the Stealth would fight back - and they did. In a second quarter that saw seven total goals, San Jose netted five of the seven. A thorn in the Mammoth's side all night, rookie Rhys Duch netted a hat trick in the second frame for the Stealth, as Jeff Zywicki and Andrew Biers each chipped in with a goal each. Colorado's Chris Gill (#25) rounded out a stellar effort in the first half with a pair of goals in the second quarter on his way to his own hat trick by halftime. The teams would be deadlocked 6-6 at the break.

It took almost 13 minutes, but the Mammoth regained the lead with 2:15 left in the third quarter when Josh Sims scored his first goal of the season making it 7-6. Gary Rosyski would net his 14th goal of the year just a minute later and that would be it for scoring in the third quarter. The Mammoth led 8-6 at the end of the period.

In an incredibly intense fourth quarter, the 16,189 in attendance at Pepsi Center didn't spend much time in their seats. Just 23-seconds into the fourth, Duch would score for San Jose to cut the Mammoth lead to 8-7. Paul Rabil would then beat Colorado net minder Andy Leyshon at the 11:50 mark to tie it up at 8-8. The teams would spar back and forth over the next five-plus minutes of action before Leyshon hit Ray Guze on a breakaway for a Mammoth goal with just 5:03 left. All-Star Colin Doyle would even things again for the Stealth at 9-9 before Gill scored his fourth goal of the night giving the Mammoth what looked like the game-winner for Colorado, with just 51 ticks remaining on the clock. The Colorado faithful were on their feet in anticipation of a Mammoth victory in the last minute of this nail-biter. But the Stealth captain and All-Star, Doyle, silenced the home crowd when his hat trick goal with 21.8 seconds left, tied the game at ten and sent the contest into overtime.

A record-setting night for Rhys Duch was complete at the 7:18 mark of the extra frame. His fifth goal of the night ended this thriller in Denver. The rookie, Duch led the Stealth with an eight point night (5 goals, 3 assists) on his way to breaking the league's rookie single season scoring record, previously held by Mammoth captain Gavin Prout. Colin Doyle ended his own record-setting night with a hat trick and four assists. His 71 assists so far this season, tie Josh Sanderson's NLL-best mark from 2005. Zywicki netted a goal and five helpers for the Stealth.

The Mammoth was led by Gill's four-goal night. Brian Langtry tacked on a pair of goals and an assist, while Gary Rosyski scored a goal and assisted on two others. Forward Jed Prossner added three assists. Andy Leyshon was superb in goal for the Mammoth - stopping a season-high 50 shots.

Colorado is at home next Friday in the regular season finale against the Edmonton Rush. It's do-or-die for the Mammoth as they hope to claim the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. The ball drops at 7pm and it's Fan Appreciation Night as well as Del Taco Youth Night at Pepsi Center. Fans 18 and younger get a free ticket with the purchase of an adult ticket. Tickets for 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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