It was Knockout Night in Las Vegas, Nevada on March 30, specifically at Michelob Ultra Arena. The Desert Dogs took their home floor to take on the Vancouver Warriors, and we’ve quickly learned, these two teams do not like each other. There are always fireworks when they play, and this contest was no different.
Knockout Night was unfortunately a literal phrase for the Desert Dogs, as Vancouver came in and knocked them around. A six-goal run in the second quarter, along with six different goal scorers, led to the Warriors KO’ing the Desert Dogs and knocking them out of playoff contention, winning this game, 12-9.
The first quarter was a deadlock, as two goals were scored aside. Connor Kirst and Zack Greer scored the first and fourth for Las Vegas, and Kyle Killen and Keegan Bal scored the middle two for the Warriors. 2-2 after one. The physicality ramped up right from the beginning, ultimately boiling over in the last few seconds with some wrestling and a game misconduct for Brad McCulley.
The second quarter was where the wheels fell off for Las Vegas. Bal opened the quarter with his second, which was short handed because of that game misconduct. Las Vegas made it right with two-straight power play goals, one from Marshal King and the other from Casey Jackson, and that’d be it for the rest of the quarter. Vancouver put their offense in overdrive and rattled off six-in-a-row. Scorers in that span were Adam Charalambides twice, Bal twice, Owen Grant, and Reid Bowering. Whew. 9-4 Warriors at the break.
“I think right now our backs are against the wall and so are theirs,” said Bal. “We just have to stick to the game plan, I think if we continue to stick to our process and do the things we know make us successful, we’ll be fine.”
Las Vegas rinsed themselves of the second quarter, and almost completely shut down Vancouver in the third. The Desert Dogs scored the first and third goals of the quarter, both from Kirst, and only gave up one to Kevin Crowley. 10-6 Warriors after three.
Once again, the Desert Dogs outscored the Warriors in the fourth quarter, but that six-goal run in the second was going to be the deciding factor. Scorers for Las Vegas were Jack Hannah and Greer twice. For Vancouver, Killen and Charalambides scored, and they rode out to the 12-9 victory.
Players of the game for Vancouver were Bal (4+5), Charalambides (3+3), and Killen (2+1). Aden Walsh was stout all game long in net, stopping 45 of 54 in total. For Las Vegas, Greer (3+1), Kirst (three goals), and Hannah (1+2) led the way. It was an up and down type of game for Landon Kells, where he had moments he was shining and others like the second quarter. He made 39 saves on 51 shots.
“Anytime you can get on a run in lacrosse is super important,” said Bal. “I’m just getting put in good positions right now. We’re running a really good team offense, it swings, but right now shots are feeling good.”
“We were dealt a tough hand,” said Curt Malawsky. “McCulley was just in there trying to defend his teammate, but the refs are going to make the calls on what they see. You have to go through the highs and lows of the National Lacrosse League, and tonight we battled back.”
Vancouver (6-9) is causing some ruckus in the standings and look to continue to bolster their playoff chances. Their next opportunity is this Friday at home against Halifax (9-7). Faceoff in that game is at 10pm. Las Vegas (4-11) is officially out of playoff contention, but that doesn’t mean they can’t play spoiler in their remaining games.
