Rocks Take First Place

2010-06-04

After the premeditated scrap, the teams got down to lacrosse.  The fans were treated to a game that displayed the best elements of our game, with great goaltending and some tight, disciplined play by both teams.  The Rocks outshot the Bellies in the first, 16 to 13, but found themselves n the short end of a 3 to 1 scoreline going into the first break.  The Rocks goal lone goal was netted by Ryan Benesch, assisted by Dean Hill and Rhys Duch.

The Rocks made a few adjustments to start the second period, came out flying and, starting at 59 seconds, bagged three goals in just 42 seconds.  The Rocks snipers were: Benesch with his second goal short-handed and unassisted; Kevin Dostie from Hill and Dylan Llord, and; Kory Kowalyk, assisted by Curt Morwick and Duch.  The Bellies were on their back heel, with the Rocks holding a 4 to 3 lead.

The Bellies poured it on but were faced with a Victoria defense that took away the fast cutter option and closed down much of the Bellies' inside game.  When the Bellies did get through, Nick Patterson was a rock in the nets.  The Rocks got the next goal as well, with the second from Dostie, set up by Duch and Patterson.  The Rocks had turned a two goal deficit into a two goal lead.

The Bellies knew that the game might be getting away from them, and found the range for two goals to scrap back and go to the room with the game tied at 5 apiece.  The Bellies held the edge in shots in the middle period, 16 to 14.  Twenty minutes would determine the winner, and first place in the league standings.

The big crowd was back in their seats early for the start of the third period.  The Rocks were business-like to start the period, and opened up the Bellies' D at 3:10, when Duch and Jeff Shattler set up Dean Hill to give the Rocks a one goal lead.  The Bellies roared back at 4:36, to tie the game at six.  When the Rocks again opened a one goal lead, with the second from Hill, assisted by Duch and Benesch at 6:20, everyone settled back for the expected see-saw scoring to the end of the game.  Last shot wins, perhaps.

However, the teams went scoreless for the rest of the match.  Victoria controlled much of the play, and the Bellies through everything they had at the men in green.  Victoria outshot the Bellies 19 to 14 in the final period.  The Bellies started Rocks D held firm and kept the shooting largely from the outside, and blocked several shots with sticks and bodies.  The Rocks take the two points and first place in the WLA standings.

Nick Patterson was selected the first star of the game, keeping the Rocks in the match, making the saves that needed to be made.  Not surprisingly, Matt Roik was selected second star for his work in the Bellies net.  The third star was Rhys Duch, with five assists.

There is no rest in the WLA schedule and the Rocks will be pulling on wet gear for their next match Friday night at Bear Mountain.  Game time is 7:45 against their Island rivals, the Nanaimo Timbermen.