4/21 stealth 15, MAMMOTH 14 OT

On the way back from Nashville, where the Sharks were victorious in 5 games, I took in another playoff game, of the box lacrosse variety. The National Lacrosse League's Champions Cup playoffs, first round matchup between the defending champion Colorado Mammoth (12-4), and your (well, maybe just mine) San Jose Stealth (9-7).

As the defending champions, nobody really thought the Mammoth were going to lose this game, however, the Stealth had an incredible second half of the season, going 6-2 in their final 8 games, including a season-ending victory over this same Mammoth club.

The game got going real quick, as Callum Crawford put the Stealth out front just 1:06 into the game. However, that was really the only brightspot for the Stealth in the whole first half, as the Mammoth answered with 4 goals, followed by 3 more after a Gary Rosyski goal made it 4-2 in favor of Colorado. Jeff Zywicki ended the quarter with a goal, and after 15 minutes, the Woolly Fuzzies had a 7-3 lead.

The 2nd Quarter was much better, as the Stealth outscored the Mammoth 5 to 4, including a pair of goals from both Zywicki and Luke Wiles, making the score at the half 11-8 in favor of Colorado.

The 3rd Quarter was the Anthony Cosmo show, as Coz stopped all 12 shots he faced. Zywicki added another pair of goals, and Colin Doyle added another, knotting the game at 11 after 3 quarters of play.

The 4th Quarter was the best quarter, as each team struck on the scoreboard. Zywicki scored first, for the Stealth, and Jamie Shewchuk answered back for the Mammoth. Dan Carey gave the Mammoth the lead 13-12, and Rosyski tied it back up on the powerplay. Cam Sedgwick gave the Stealth the 14-13 lead with just under 4 minutes remaining, but Brian Langtry evened the score 58 seconds later. The 14s would hold, as the 4th Quarter would end, sending the game into sudden death overtime.

Each team had a few chances to score, including the 'Froed defenseman/transition man for the Stealth, Ian Hawksbee. But it was Z, who struck yet again. Jeff Zywicki put a roller past Mammoth netminder Chris Levis that ended the game, sent the Mammoth home for the summer, sent the Stealth into jubilation, and sent all three Stealth fans (myself one of them) home real happy.

Zywicki lead the attack, tallying 7 goals to go with 1 assist. Doyle added 10 points as well (1g, 9a), and Rosyski had 7 points (2g, 5a). Coz played the majority of the game, making 35 saves on 46 shots in 48 minutes and 45 seconds of play, getting the win. Aaron Bold played the other 15:57, making 12 saves on 15 shots.

Detroit is looming, but for now, congrats to the Stealth.

Go Sharks (WOOO STEALTH)
-Jess






One of the old fashioned "paint-the-opposing-team-name-on-an-old-car-and-let-kids-beat-the-crap-out-of-it-with-a-sledgehammer" cars.




Another shot of the car.




Woolly, the Mammoth mascot, with the Woolly t-shirt cannon.




"Get in the Box" signs were handed out at the door. People seemed to know what to do with them.