Eight Ejected in Rock's OT Win over Blazers
NLL WEEK 2 COVERAGE
* Fists Fly; Billings' OT Goal Leads Toronto over Boston
* Greer Leads Swarm to Win in Home Opener
* Ratcliffe, Stealth Rout Rush in Edmonton
* Philly Cruises Past Blazers in Home Opener
* Knighthawks Rolls to Road Win over Buffalo
* Prout Exacts Revenge in Return to Colorado, Sparks Rush over Mammoth
from press release
TORONTO – The Toronto Rock (2-0) won its
home opener Friday at the Air Canada Centre in an overtime
nailbiter, 8-7 over the Boston Blazers (0-2).
National Lacrosse League Rookie of the Week Garrett Billings
scored the game-winning goal. Rock goalie Bob Watson had 36 saves,
and Colin Doyle and Stephan Leblanc each recorded six points. Doyle
earned game MVP honors.
Gary Bining led Boston with four points (1g, 3a), while Anthony
Cosmo stopped 47 of the Rock’s 55 shots.
Boston opened scoring with a Daryl Veltman goal that was quickly
countered by Blaine Manning for the Rock, but his goal was called
back due to crease violation. Play halted for approximately five
minutes as four separate fights broke out on the turf. Each team
had four players ejected from the game for game misconducts. Once
play resumed the Blazers sunk another goal past Toronto netminder
Bob Watson. Second-year forward Josh Wasson put Toronto on the
board with 1:05 left in the first quarter.
The second started with Boston leading 2-1. Brett Queener put the
Blazers up by two, but Toronto captain Colin Doyle and Kasey
Beirnes evened out the game at 3-3. Stephan Leblanc for the Rock
struck next with a goal past Blazers goalie Anthony Cosmo to give
Toronto its first lead of the game to end the first half 4-3.
Doyle kicked off the third quarter with his second goal of the
game, followed by teammate Mike Hominuck. Bining woke up the
Blazers offense, posting their fourth goal with 7:00 left on the
clock. Defense controlled the rest of the third; the teams headed
into the last quarter of play with the Rock up 6-4.
Matt Lyons and Ryan Hotaling struck for the Blazers, tying the
game at 6. But Hominuck would regain the Rock lead, draining his
second of the night. Mitch Belisle scored his second of the game
for Boston to put the two teams even with 3:00 left in the game.
The clock would drain out, sending Toronto and Boston into sudden
death overtime.
Three minutes passed in overtime until Boston’s Kyle Ross
was given a five-minute penalty for high sticking Toronto’s
Doyle. The Rock played against a tough Boston defense until rookie
Garrett Billings drained the sudden-death winner past Cosmo, ending
the game 8-7.
The Toronto Rock play at the Air Canada Centre again next weekend
to start a home-and-home series with the Rochester Knighthawks
(1-0). Game time is set for 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23.
