(Photos courtesy of James Bennett/NLL)
The Toronto Rock (8-5) visited the Halifax Thunderbirds (5-8) at the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The Rock looked good in their last outing. CJ Kirst was on fire with five goals, while Challen Rogers had three, as the Rock defeated the Vancouver Warriors 13-10.
The Thunderbirds had a strong showing last time out as well facing the Las Vegas Desert Dogs. Led by Clarke Petterson and Stephen Keogh with three each, as Halifax won 13-11
The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose for Toronto facing Warren Hill for the Thunderbirds.
Halifax started strong getting out to 2-0 lead, keeping the Rock off the scoresheet for over 11:00. Toronto got on track late in the quarter scoring three in a span of 3:18 to take the lead. However a buzzer beater by Clarke Petterson had the teams tied 3-3 after one.
The see-saw battle continued throughout the second quarter with the Rock scoring twice to take the lead only to have the Thunderbirds come back to tie. The Rock took a one goal lead to the half with Latrell Harris scoring in transition late in the frame.
The second half continued in the same trend. One team would get up by a couple, the other team continuously come back to tie in this highly entertaining affair.
Halifax took full advantage of Toronto penalties, going 3 for 3 in the half (4 for 4 in the game), to stay neck and neck with the Rock down the stretch.
Challen Rogers scored a pair of late goals to give Toronto a 13-12 lead with just 1:28 remaining, but Brendan Bomberry’s shot from the side of the net beat Nick Rose to tie the game with just 0:21.8 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.
After almost six full minutes of heart-stopping action Josh Dawick ended the game with an outside bounced shot at 5:58.to give the Rock the victory. Toronto wins 14-13.
To The Game:
Halifax got on the scoresheet first when Will MacLeod scored all alone in front off an Austin Blumbergs pass at 4:34, followed by Mike Robinson with a low to low blast off a Jake Withers feed at 9:38.
The Rock finally get on the board When Dan Craig fired a laser from the outside off a Challen Rogers pass at 11:13, followed by Josh Jackson with his first goal as a Rock at 12:20 to tie the game.
Josh Dawick gave Toronto their first lead converting a CJ Kirst pass with a bounced shot at 14:41, but a buzzer beater from Clarke Petterson on a long lead pass from Ryan Terefenko had the game tied after one.
After one quarter, Toronto 3 Halifax 3.
Second Quarter:
The Rock opened the second quarter scoring with Mark Matthews finishing a pass from Sam English at 1:26, followed by Owen Hiltz with a beauty from in close off a Chris Boushy rebound at 5:17.
Clarke Petterson scored his second of the game with a bounced shot off a Will MacLeod pass at 7:37, followed by Brendan Bomberry on the power-play finishing a Petterson feed at 9:18.
Latrell Harris would score his 100th career point with a sidearm snipe to the top corner off a Josh Jubenville pass at 11:18.
At the half, Toronto 6 Halifax 5.
Third Quarter:
Jason Knox opened the third quarter scoring on the power-play blasting a Clarke Petterson pass at 3:59, but Owen Hiltz replied with a low to low laser to the shortside off a Latrell Harris pass at 5:37.
Clarke Petterson again tied the game going airborne from in front off a Johnny Pearson pass at 7:25, followed by a power-play goal from Cody Jamieson finishing a Petterson feed at 8:58.
Chris Boushy tied the game with a blast from in front off a Dan Craig pass at 9:59, followed by Josh Dawick on the power-play with a howitzer to the far corner off a Mark Matthews pass at 12:15.
Mike Robinson tied the game for Halifax on the power-play with a behind the back beauty off a Clarke Petterson pass at 14:45.
After three quarters, Toronto 9 Halifax 9.
Fourth Quarter:
Owen Hiltz opened the fourth quarter scoring just 0:15 seconds in off a Latrell Harris pass, but Cody Jamieson answered just 0:27 seconds later with a high to low shot through the five-hole off a Clarke Petterson feed.
Curtis Romanchych then gave the Thunderbirds the lead going in all alone off a Ryan Terefenko pass in transition at 6:50, followed by Mike Robinson with his second of the night to open a two goal lead 0:19 seconds later.
Sam English got the Rock within one with a spinarama move of a Josh Dawick pass at 9:02, followed by Challen Rogers with an outside screen shot unassisted to tie the game at 12:58.
Rogers then gave the Rock the lead with a great individual effort diving across the crease off an Owen Hiltz pass at 13:32, but a dramatic goal from Brendan Bomberry at the side of the net with just 0:21.8 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.
After regulation, Toronto 13 Halifax 13.
Overtime:
After almost six minutes of end to end action in which both teams had chances to end the game, Josh Dawick found the back of the net with a bounced shot off a Challen Rogers pass at 5:58.
Final score, Toronto 14 Halifax 13
The Three Stars:
1. Josh Dawick
2. Owen Hiltz
3. Clarke Petterson
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored Halifax 58-55.
- The faceoff battle went to the Thunderbirds 18-12.
- The loose ball battle was won by the Rock 59-58.
- The Rock went 1 for 2 on the power-play, while Halifax went a perfect 4 for 4.
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