Now, that’s the way to start a season.
The Vancouver Stealth’s season-opening weekend couldn’t have gone any better, as they rolled up road wins over Calgary and Colorado to start the National Lacrosse League regular season 2-0.
On Saturday they defeated the Colorado Mammoth 15-9 in Denver, just 24 hours after edging the Calgary Roughnecks 12-11 at the Saddledome.
Led by Rhys Duch, who
counted a hat trick in each
half, Vancouver spent much
of the game Saturday in control – except for a brief run in the third quarter
when Colorado blitzed ahead 8-7 with four quick goals. The Stealth had an answer – reeling off four of their own, including three in a span of 52 seconds, and limited the Mammoth to just one tally in the final frame.
Duch finished with nine points in the win, while Corey Small, who like Duch plays summer lacrosse with the Western Lacrosse Association’s Victoria Shamrocks, pocketed two goals and five helpers. New Westminster Salmonbellies’ Logan Schuss netted four goals and contributed two assists, while the Burnaby Lakers’ Justin Salt snapped in a goal and twin assists.
The Mammoth got four goals from the the Lakers’ Eli McLaughlin.
Netminder Tyler Richards, a former Bellie who plays for Burnaby, made 43 saves in the win.
A day earlier, a strong first half created enough momentum to hold off Calgary’s late rally.
Vancouver took a 12-7 with Keegan Bal’s third of the day early in the fourth frame, and then held on as Calgary came within a goal.
Bal, who like Schuss plays with the Bellies, also drew a pair of assists.
The Stealth now look for a third straight win, going up against Calgary on Saturday, Jan. 14 at the Langley Events Centre.
