Chris Wardle with a hat trick, Ryan Lee with a mind-bending first goal and Dillon Ward with 48 saves made for an exciting first win against the Vancouver Stealth in the 2017-18 NLL season opener on Friday Night.
The Colorado Mammoth lacrosse team roused Langley Events Centre in the first quarters with goals by Chris Wardle and Jeremy Noble as well as by Mammoth newcomers, Tim Edwards and Ryan Benesch, who is 35 goals away from 400 career goals. The Mammoth and Stealth tied the quarter at 5-5.
Mammoth Goalie, Dillon Ward, could not be beat as the Stealth started the second quarter with twelve shots on goal but no points. Jordan Gilles and Joey Cupido ignited the Mammoth’s momentum scoring the first two goals of the quarter. Shortly after, the Boys in Burgundy found their sweet spot with a goal by Bryce Sweeting, quickly followed by a gorgeous, career-first goal by Mammoth rookie, Ryan Lee. The Mammoth ended the second quarter as the only team to score, leading 9-5.
The Stealth fought to close the gap in the third quarter, but a hat trick for Wardle following goals by Noble and Lee held the spread at 12-6 in the first ten minutes of the quarter. Though the Stealth scored twice, in the back-half of the quarter, goals from McLaughlin, Wardle and Benesch increased the Mammoth’s lead, leaving the third quarter at 15-7.
The Mammoth went scoreless in the fourth quarter, but Ward allowed the Stealth only one goal out of ten shots, ending the game with 48 saves and clinching the Mammoth’s first win of the 2017-18 NLL Season. The final score was 15-8.
With his first win as the Mammoth’s General Manager solidified, Dan Carey said, “I thought, overall, our guys played well. We took time to settle in. During the first game there’s a lot of excitement, but our guys did a good job of pushing through the first quarter and showing more focus during the second quarter on.”
With the victory, the Mammoth head back to Colorado to prepare for their home opener against the defending NLL Champion’s Cup Winners, the Georgia Swarm on December 23.
Dan Carey said, “Game one we expected the guys to play hard knowing they’re still working through some things. Game two, we’re playing against defending champions so we need to continue in what we did well tonight, while improving on the things we didn’t.”
The Mammoth’s home opener on December 23 will feature the Mammoth’s inaugural Teddy Bear Toss to benefit A Precious Child. Every single game ticket sold will include a Mammoth teddy bear. Find seats at AltitudeTickets.com.