Eduardo Curros – Western Correspondent, All Lacrosse All The Time
The Saskatchewan Rush matched up with the Vancouver Warriors at Rogers Arena Friday night in their only meeting this season. The Rush were coming off a huge double win in Week 12, looking to become the first team to 9 wins on the year. The Warriors looked to get back above the .500 mark after evening their record against Las Vegas last week. Four different players recorded two goals as the Rush prevailed 10-7, improving to 9-2 on the season, their win streak now at five games. The Rush host the league leading Buffalo Bandits next week in what could be a Finals preview. Vancouver falls to 5-6 with the loss; they have a week off before heading to San Diego for a second showdown with the Seals in Week 15.
Rush hold slim first half lead after rare double penalty shot
Vancouver’s Adam Charalambides scored first at 4:44, with help from Keegan Bal and Alec Stathakis. The Rush unleashed three consecutive goals in response. Brock Haley scored with an assist from Clark Walter at 5:05, then added a second goal unassisted at 6:37. Austin Shanks made it 3-1 with help from Haley and Ryan Keenan at 7:04. Vancouver would come back to score twice with Riley Loewen from Kevin Crowley and Marcus Klarich at 7:44, then Crowley with help from Klarich and Brayden Laity at 9:29. The game would be tied 3-3 after one quarter.
Saskatchewan retook the lead when Mike Triolo buried a feed from Walter at 2:55 of the second quarter. Walter added a power play goal, assisted by Zach Manns and Robert Church at 3:45. Then in a rare instance, Vancouver was awarded not one, but two penalty shots at 4:42. The penalty shots were awarded after a Rush player first illegally entered the floor on a substitution, then committed a penalty on a Warriors breakaway opportunity. Keegan Bal was denied by Rush goaltender Frank Scigliano on the first penalty shot, but scored on the second attempt to cut the lead to 5-4 going into halftime.
Rush pull away in second half for league-leading win #9
The Rush took control of the game in the third quarter, outscoring Vancouver 4-0. Keenan scored thanks to help from Manns and Haley at 1:04. Shanks scored again with assists from Jake Boudreau and Adam Jay at 7:46. Church scored at 9:22, then Walter scored shorthanded at 13:14 to give the Rush a 9-4 lead at the end of the third.
Church made it 10-4 at 6:24 of the fourth quarter with an unassisted power play goal. However, the Warriors would fight back, first with Steph Charbonneau drilling one at 7:58. Bal converted a pass from Johnathan Peshko at 9:18. Lastly, Charalambides netted his second on a power play at 9:55, with help from Bal. But Vancouver would get no closer as Saskatchewan won this game with a final score of 10-7.
Curros’s Corner
Rush: Walter (2g, 2a); Haley (2g, 2a); Church (2g, 1a); Shanks (2g); Keenan (1g, 2a); Triolo (1g); Zach Manns (4a)
Warriors: Bal (2g, 2a); Charalambides (2g); Crowley (1g, 1a); Loewen (1g); Charbonneau (1g); Marcus Klarich (2a)
Ryan Dilks (VAN): 11 Loose Balls (led all players), 3 Blocked Shots, 3 Caused Turnovers
Frank Scigliano (SASK): 31 saves; Aden Walsh (VAN): 34 saves
