Saskatchewan Rush advance to NLL final with 11-10 win over Colorado Mammoth
Sask. team to play Georgia Swarm in Champion's Cup final
Mike Messenger's goal early in the fourth quarter was the eventual winner as the Saskatchewan Rush held on for an 11-10 win over the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday in the National Lacrosse League West Division final in Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan will now face the Georgia Swarm in the NLL Champion's Cup final.
The Rush, two-time defending cup champions, will now get their chance at a hat trick.
Some amazing goals tonight. This one from <a href="https://twitter.com/messengerlax">@messengerlax</a> = Unreal. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COLvsSAS?src=hash">#COLvsSAS</a> <a href="https://t.co/UidQ4t7L8h">pic.twitter.com/UidQ4t7L8h</a>
—@SaskRushLAXMark Matthews scored twice and added four assists for Saskatchewan and Ben McIntosh and Robert Church had two goals apiece.
Jeff Cornwall, Adam Jones, Ryan Keenan and Matthew Dinsdale chipped in as well. Aaron Bold made 32 saves for the win.
Eli McLaughlin led Colorado with a hat trick, while Zack Greer and Jeremy Noble both had a pair of goals. Greg Downing, Jacob Ruest and Joey Cupido also scored. Dillon Ward stopped 37 shots.
The Rush went 2 for 3 on the power play and the Mammoth were 1 for 2 with the man advantage.
Having completed the series sweep, the Rush now move on to the Champion's Cup best-of-three series against the Georgia Swarm.
The league final begins on June 4 in Georgia. The second game of the series will be in Saskatchewan on June 10.