Stealth take thriller
March 22, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
San Jose Stealth News Release
The sparse crowd at HP Pavilion just wouldn't leave and why would they? Everyone wanted to bask in the San Jose Stealth's last-second victory over Western Division rival Calgary.
San Jose won it in heroic fashion with team captain Colin Doyle firing a shot past goalie Pat Campbell with four seconds left for the win.
The Stealth trailed 12-9 with less than a quarter to play, before scoring the last four goals for the win. Their run followed five-straight goals by Calgary.
The win puts the Stealth firmly in second place in the West at 6-4, while Calgary drops to 4-8 and is threatening to fade from the playoff picture.
FIRST QUARTER
A pugnacious quarter ended with the Stealth taking advantage of multiple power-play opportunities. Stealth captain Colin Doyle got everything started, skipping a shot past Pat Campbell for the first goal of the game. Meanwhile, an active Stealth defense shut down Calgary through the first half of the first quarter. San Jose even thwarted the Roughnecks on a power play.
Calgary went two men down when they were called for a too many men on the field. Luke Wiles fired a goal through the sparse Riggers' defense for the second goal of the game. Wiles then trash-talked with a Calgary defender, which promoted some shoving.
The Roughnecks couldn't stay out of trouble, getting their third penalty of the quarter for unsportsman-like conduct on their bench. The Stealth scored their second power-play goal of the quarter with a crisp pass from Luke Wiles to Jeff Zywicki.
Things got nasty towards the end of the quarter when Stealth defensemen Curtis Hodgson tripped Jeff Shattler during a Calgary breakaway. The trip sent Shattler careening into the boards and then prompted an attack from Roughneck defensemen Chris Seller, who pinned Hodgson against the boards. Later, Scott Ranger got into a fight with Hodgson with both dumping on the ground near the boards.
Calgary amassed 12 penalty minutes in the quarter. First quarter: 4-1.
SECOND QUARTER
The rough play continued when Paul Dawson and Colin Doyle got tossed into the box for roughing and an unsportsman-like conduct respectively. The Stealth had three men in the penalty box when rookie Sean Morris scored a short-handed goal, the first of his career. It was also Morris's first extensive playing time and he provided some quickness from the left side.
Zywicki then scored the second-straight short-handed goal with nine minutes left to pump up the San Jose lead to 6-1.
Lewis Ratcliff and Chris Seller then scored goals within 10 seconds of each other to bite into the five-goal lead lead, which prompted a quick timeout from San Jose coach Walt Christianson. It didn't work. San Jose couldn't hold their composure as rotating group of Stealth took turns in the penalty box, while Calgary reeled off fourth straight goals to cut the lead to 6-5.
Doyle, fresh off of scoring four goals in the All-Star game, dropped one into the net to break the San Jose drought. Halftime: 7-5.
THIRD QUARTER
The half began with Kyle Sorensen in the penalty box after some sort of malfeasance that occurred at the end of the third quarter. Curt Malawsky scored a power-play goal, which was followed by a Mike Carnegie and a Ryan McNish goal as Calgary captured the lead for the first time 8-7.
The McNish goal happened after a sloppy pass by goalie Anthony Cosmo was easily intercepted. Morris tied the score with his second goal of the game, but then Calgary scored two quick goals to take their biggest lead of the game at 10-8. Cosmo was then yanked for Aaron Bold.
Jeff Zywicki shaved the lead to a goal after scoring his 100th career goal towards the end of the third quarter. Third quarter: 10-9.
FOURTH QUARTER
Calgary scored their first goal against Bold to go up 11-9 and 35 seconds later, Shawn Cable fired another into the net for the Roughnecks biggest lead of the game at 12-9.
Because of Roughnecks penalties, Calgary was briefly down two men, and the Stealth scored a goal off of Cam Sedgwick's stick to cut the lead to a goal. Seconds later, Luke Wiles, an avowed Calgary enemy, slung a sidearm shot past Campbell to tie the score at 12. Wiles has twice defeated Calgary with overtime goals.
The Stealth had some unbelievable scoring opportunities, including a Colin Doyle breakaway, but they couldn't cash in. They put three shots on goal on a power play after Scott Carnegie was caught cross-checking Doyle.
The captain more than made up for it, scoring with four seconds left in the game for the win.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 22, 2008
- Rock steal big game from Buffalo Bandits - Toronto Rock
- Bandits fall to Rock 13-9 - Buffalo Bandits
- Titans down first place Philly 20-13 Saturday night - Orlando Titans
- Wings Suffer Second Loss Of Season; Lose To New York 20-13 - Philadelphia Wings
- Late goal sinks Riggers - Calgary Roughnecks
- Stealth take thriller - San Jose Stealth
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