NLL: Stealth Pounds Mammoth in Everett Debut
Week 1 Coverage
* Scoreboard
* Titans Top
Wings in Orlando Debut
* Rock
Scorches Blazers in Season Opener
* Grant, Gait
Dazzle in Dream Team Debut for Knighthawks
* Stealth
Pulls Mammoth in Everett Debut
from press releases
EVERETT, WASH. -- It was a game that will be
remembered for many years for the Washington Stealth and their
fans. Over 4,700 fans rocked the Comcast Arena at Everett to propel
Washington to a 17-8 victory over heated West Division rival
Colorado in the first-ever regular season lacrosse game in the
state of Washington.
Jeff Zywicki earned MVP honors in the game as he got the Stealth
off to a fast start with four goals in the first half. Zywicki
scored the first goal just 1:31 into the game and Paul Rabil scored
shorthanded later in the first and the Stealth never looked
back. The Stealth held a 3-0 lead at the end of the first and
held a 6-3 advantage at halftime.
The second half was much of the same for the Stealth, as they
outscored the Mammoth 11-5 in the final two quarters. 2009
All-Rookie Team goaltender Tyler Richards got the start in goal and
stymied the Colorado offense all evening. He finished with 45 saves
on 53 shots.
Ten Stealth players scored goals, led by Zywicki, who finished
with five. He also dished out three assists to lead all scorers
with eight points.
Stealth defenseman Eric Martin recorded six points on a goal and
five assists. He also grabbed 11 loose balls. 2009 Rookie of the
Year Rhys Duch, who was presented with the award prior to the game,
also finished with a goal and five assists. Rabil finished the
night with two goals and three assists. Cam Sedgwick added five
assists. Mike Grimes pitched in with a goal and three assists,
along with a game-high 12 loose balls.
For the Mammoth, Jamie Shewchuck had four goals and an assist.
Standout rookie Ilija Gajic finished with two goals and an assist.
Starting goaltender Curtis Palidwor made 15 saves on 20 shots
before leaving the game due to injury in the loss.
One of the big stories in the game however, was the crowd on
hand. The energy level was high for 60 minutes and the
players took notice. “It’s easy to feed of the
energy of the crowd when they are that loud throughout the
game,” said Martin. “They definitely have an
impact on how we play on the floor.”
The Stealth is hoping for an even bigger turnout for its next game
against a much-improved Edmonton Rush squad. They take part in
another West Division battle on Friday, Jan. 15 at the Comcast
Arena.
*****
DENVER -- The Colorado Mammoth lost 17-8 in the
first-ever NLL game at Comcast Arena in Everett, Wash. The
contest, played in front of 4,737 fans, marked the season opener
for both teams.
The Stealth opened the scoring early in the first quarter on a
Jeff Zywicki goal just 91 seconds into the game to put Washington
in front 1-0. Paul Rabil followed with a short-handed tally
midway through period, and that would be nearly all the scoring for
the period until Zywicki slid a shot past Mammoth goalie Curtis
Palidwor in the closing seconds of the first to make it 3-0 Stealth
after one.
Colorado notched its first point, as Cliff Smith assisted on Jamie
Shewchuk’s first goal of the season just 17 seconds into the
second quarter to cut the Washington lead to 3-1. Mammoth rookie
Ilija Gajic drew rope just 30 seconds later and the visiting team
was within one at 3-2.
But the talented Stealth forward Zywicki scored back-to-back
goals (his third and fourth of the half) to push the lead back to
three for the Stealth at 5-2. The teams would swap goals in the
remaining minutes of the second period, as Washington took a 6-3
lead into the halftime locker room.
On a night that saw Colorado playing from behind the entire
evening, the second half started much like the first -- with three
consecutive Stealth goals. Paul Rabil, Rhys Duch and Eric
Martin all tallied scores as Washington stretched its advantage to
9-3 barely three minutes into the third quarter. Things would get
worse from there for Colorado.
Although Ilija Gajic and Shewchuk would tally goals in the period
for the Mammoth, it was the Stealth’s offense that impressed.
With several players getting in on the action and contributing in
the scoring column, Washington stretched its lead to 12-5 after
three quarters.
With Stealth goaltender Tyler Richards turning in a sparkling
performance, his offense didn’t let up late in the contest.
Pouring in another five goals in the final frame, Washington
continually frustrated Colorado all night.
Despite a five-point night (4g, 1a) from Shewchuk, Colorado would
fall by a final score of 17-8. Ilija Gajic added two goals
for the Mammoth, while Brian Langtry and Alex Gajic assisted on two
goals each.
Washington was led by Zywicki’s eight-point night (5g,
3a). Paul Rabil added a pair of goals and three assists.
Colorado’s home opener is Saturday night, as the Mammoth
hosts the Edmonton Rush at Pepsi Center. The ball drops at 7 p.m.
