Vancouver Stealth Suffer First Home Loss
January 26, 2014 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Vancouver Stealth News Release
(Vancouver, BC) - The Vancouver Stealth (2-3) lose their first game at home 9-8 to the Edmonton rush on Saturday night, dropping to 2-1 at the Langley Events Centre. The Edmonton Rush (4-0) remain the only team unbeaten in the NLL this season, earning their fourth straight win. Mark Matthews led the way for the Rush registering 5 points (2+3) and was also named the first star of the game.
The Rush scored the first goal of the game but it was all Stealth for the rest of the opening half. Lewis Ratcliff and Rhys Duch both scored two goals apiece and Tyler Richards stopped 25 of 26 shots including a highlight reel save to end the first half. The Stealth held a 7-2 lead at half-time.
Duch's first goal of the game was also his 200th career NLL regular season goal.
The Stealth had all the momentum going into the third quarter but the Rush stormed back in the second half outscoring the Stealth 7-1,
"We had good preparation and had an idea of how to attack their defense," said Stealth head coach, Chris Hall.
"We did a great job in the first half, T- Rich was great, and our defense was solid, but in the second half the offense stopped doing what was so successful in the first half."
The Stealth did get a late goal from Rhys Duch to make it 8-9 but were unable to get the tying goal to send the game to overtime. The Rush scored eight unanswered goals after being down by six, as it was a tale of two halves,
"I think that's the nature of NLL games, there's always runs," said Edmonton Rush, assistant coach, Jeff McComb.
"You have to stay positive. Even though they started really well I thought we were getting chances, but Tyler Richards played awesome in net tonight. In the second half things really turned around for us."
Tonight's game proved to be a similar story line to these two team's last meeting, as the Rush came storming out of the gates in the 2013 Western Division semi-final going up 7-2. In the end it was the Stealth who had the huge comeback win to move on to the Western Division final, but tonight was a different outcome.
The Stealth will now head out on the road for back to back games as they visit the Toronto Rock on January 31, 2014 which can be seen on TSN2, followed by a Saturday night game against the Philadelphia Wings on February 1, 2014.
The Stealth will return home to the Langley Events Centre on February 8, 2014 as they take on the Colorado Mammoth.
For more information on upcoming games and ticket information visit www.StealthLAX.com.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from January 26, 2014
- Vancouver Stealth Suffer First Home Loss - Vancouver Stealth
- Rush with a Comeback to Win 9/8 over Stealth - Edmonton Rush
- Mammoth Edge Roughnecks In Overtime - Calgary Roughnecks
- Seven Goals for Adam Jones as Mammoth Wins in Overtime - Colorado Mammoth
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