Photo Credit: Dan Brodie
Vancouver relinquished a fourth quarter lead and was on the losing side of a 10-9 decision versus the Mammoth Saturday night at the Langley Events Centre.
Captain John Grant Jr. and goaltender Dillon Ward stood out in a hard fought road victory versus a game Vancouver squad. Vancouver now finds itself mired in a four-game losing streak. The Stealth turned in a much improved effort than it’s previous two games but couldn’t solve Ward late. Starting off looking like the lowest scoring lacrosse game ever, the Mammoth led 3-1 at the half. Both teams had trouble finding their offensive rhythm early, spending many possessions bombing away from the perimeter. Colorado led 2-0 after one quarter on goals by former Stealth player Dean Hill and Syracuse legend Casey Powell. Vancouver’s Matt Beers would get things going for the home side beating Ward high in transition on a long pass from Tyler Richards. A glimmer of hope for a transition game that desperately needs to get going. Grant and Powell would connect on the PP for the Mammoth’s third goal and take a two goal lead on 18 shots into the second half.
Stealth rookie Tyler Digby continued his strong play this year scoring three goals in the third frame looking like the most threatening member of the offense. With Rhys Duch out, Vancouver needed someone to step up offensively. Colorado’s Mat MacLeod, Grant Jr., and Sean Pollock all tallied and an excited crowd had a 6-6 tie going into the fourth quarter.
Pollock scored again getting T Rich moving and picking the top corner far side and the Mammoth led 7-6. Joey Cupido scored on a great hustle play following a shot from Illija Gajic that missed the net and bounced out of the Colorado zone. Cupido recognized and outran everyone en route to a breakaway goal. Brett Bucktooth tied it on an outside shot getting the home crowd back in the game. Ward made a big save on Lewis Ratcliff and Colorado’s Dan Ball scored running in transition taking a 9-8 lead. Port Coquitlam, BC native Joel Dalgarno scored the game winning goal for Colorado on a tough effort. Working off ball, he managed to get inside finishing an over the shoulder pass from Grant. That goal took the air out of the stadium. The Stealth’s Curtis Hodgson scored one more time but they ran out of time falling to the Mammoth for the second time this season. For a game that started slow, the second half was very entertaining.
Game notes:
John Grant Jr. dazzled fans with magnificent stick skills, deadly accurate back hand passes, and on his fifth point he displayed his strength. Backing in his defender Chris O’Dougherty, rolling and beating Richards on an amazing individual effort. He led all shooters by far with 19 shots.
Tyler Richards recorded two assists and showed that he has a great stick that sometimes goes underused. Vancouver seemed to have trouble penetrating the Colorado defense and the two man game wasn’t working. Lewis Ratcliff’s lack of production was due in part to the absence of Duch and the Stealth’s inability to get him looks off ball.
Joey Cupido looked great all night with one goal, one assist and three loose balls. He could very well be the best player you’ve never heard of. He plays tight defensively and has the skills to score in transition.
Colton Clark led the Mammoth with eight loose balls and Tyler Garrison also had eight, tops for all Stealth runners.
