Schreiber, Ierlan Return To Help Rock To Their First Victory

(Photo Credit: Christian Bender NLL)

Toronto, Ontario  – The Saskatchewan Rush (4-2) visited the Toronto Rock (1-5) in NLL action Saturday night at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga, Ontario.

Zach Manns (17g,12a) and Austin Shanks (10g,10a) have been lighting it up for the Rush with support from Mike Triolo (6g,3a), Brock Haley (6g,11a) and Ryan Keenan (5g,6a).  Frank Scigliano has looked very steady in net this season as well.

The Rock are getting healthier, and have played well enough to win, but still sit at 0-5.  Josh Dawick (11g,6a) and Chris Boushy (10g,7a) have led the Rock offense so far this year.  However, last weekthe resurgence of Corey Small, Brian Cameron, Dan Craig, as well as the return of Challen Rogers helped the Rock’s offense get back to where they once were.  Big news for this game is the return of TD Ierlan and Tom Schreiber.

The goalie match-up had Frank Scigliano in net for Saskatchewan facing Nick Rose in net for the Rock.

A very evenly played first half saw the teams trade the lead back and forth.  Tom Schreiber injected some needed energy into the Rock offense, allowing Challen Rogers to come out the back door and rejuvenate the defense.  Robert Church and Ryan Keenan led the way for the Rush, matching the intensity and energy of the Rock.  At the half it was tied 5-5.

The second half saw the Rock turn up the intensity, scoring four unanswered goals to jump out to a 9-5 lead.  Although Saskatchewan pushed forward, the Rock were able to keep them in check en route to their first win of the season.   Toronto wins 11-8.

To The Game:

The Rush opened the scoring with a low shot to the far corner from Brock Haley off a Ryan Keenan pass at 4:00, but Toronto tied it on the power-play with Josh Dawick diving from behind the net on the power-play off a Tom Schreiber pass at 6:21. 

Saskatchewan regained the lead when Robert Church picked the far corner off a Jake Boudreau feed just 0:23 seconds later, followed by a low to low shot from Ryan Keenan off a Matt Hossack pass at 8:44 for a 3-1 lead.

Tom Schreiber, fresh in the lineup, got the Rock within one with a low to low laser off a Chris Boushy pass at 9:18, followed by a dive from behind the net off a Chris Boushy pass at 12:24.

After one quarter, Toronto 3 Saskatchewan 3.

(Photo Credit: Christian Bender NLL)

Second Quarter:

Chris Boushy gave the Rock their first lead of the night from in front of the net off a Schreiber pass at 5:16, but Saskatchewan answered back on the power-play when Zach Manns fired a laser to the corner off a Ryan Keenan pass at 6:36.

The Rush took the lead when Clark Walter scored from in front off a Mike Triolo pass at 7:29, but Chris Boushy in transition, beat Frank Scigliano all alone in front of the net off a Chris Corbeil pass at 9:01.

At the half, Toronto 5 Saskatchewan 5.

Knighthawks

Third Quarter:

Challen Rogers opened the second half scoring diving across the crease off a Chris Weier feed in transition at 0:47 seconds, followed by a laser from Brian Cameron on a fadaway shot off a Corey Small pass at 3:14.

The Rock increased the lead when Corey Small finished a rebound from a Challen Rogers shot at 4:20, followed by Brian Cameron with his second of the game with a high to high shot to the top corner off a Small feed at 11:05.

Saskatchewan started to come back when Robert Church picked the corner off a Ryan Keenan pass at 11:54.

After three quarters, Toronto 9 Saskatchewan 6.

(Photo Credit: Christian Bender NLL)

Fourth Quarter:

The Rush got within two when Bobby Kidd finished a Matt Acchione feed at 7:31, but the Rock answered with Josh Dawick diving from behind the net off a Chris Boushy pass at 9:44.

Saskatchewan got one more when Ryan Keenan quick sticked a pass from Robert Church at 13:59, but a long lead pass from Nick Rose to Tom Schreiber sealed the deal  for the Rock at 14:30.

Final score, Toronto 11 Saskatchewan 8.

The Three Stars:

1. Tom Schreiber
2. Chris Boushy
3. Ryan Keenan

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Toronto 54-49.
  • The faceoff battle was won by the Rock 14-9.
  • The loose ball battle went to Toronto 81-65.
  • Both Rush and Rock power-plays went 1 for 3.

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