Saturday 22 February 2014

Rock Win ... But Much Closer Than it Should Have Been!


That is not the final score of the game but the score at the end of the third quarter. It was all fun 'til then.

Tonight the 3-4 Toronto Rock took on the 1-6 Minnesota Swarm.

The game started off as usual, with the Toronto Rock Cheerleaders getting the crowd ready, Iggy leading the player introductions onto the field, and the singing of the National Anthems by Scotty Newlands


Teena and I met my friend Roger (on the left) and his dad, Ben, for supper before the game. As we have season tickets, we also get some free vouchers for tickets. Roger and his dad were in the section below us and had a great time! 


Time for the action!

 
 

Teena and I.


The first quarter was scrappy and a couple of fights broke out. This is one of them. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto had a 4 -2 lead.

 

More action.

 
 

The place was rocking! The Rock Cheerleaders led the happy crowd.

 

The Rock were scoring goals.


Iggy worked the crowd.

 
 

Toronto fans were happy. Minnesota had scored with 5:06 remaining in the second quarter and did not get a goal in the third quarter at all. Meanwhile the Rock had scored eight straight goals in that time and led 13 -4 at the end of the third quarter.

In fact, it took another three minute plus for the Swarm to finally score in the fourth. Everybody was having fun.

 
 

With just 3:26 left in the game, the Rock had a seemingly insurmountable 13 - 7 lead. Then the Swarm went on a bit of a tear, stinging the Rock (sorry but I couldn't resist) with 4 goals in two minutes and twenty one seconds to pull within two with just over a minute to play.

Nick Rose (Rosie!) had played fantastic up to the end of the third but let in three, behind the net goals in the final quarter. In the last minute, with the Swarm goalie pulled we finally got that insurance goal and the Rock won 14 -12.

The victory lap thanking the fans.


Captain Colin Doyle was the first star of the game. Not only did he play a great game but scored the last two goals of the first half, the last one before the buzzer being his 500th goal. He is only the fourth player in the NLL history to reach this milestone.


The Rock who now have a .500 record and have won three out of four at home will be on the road for a few weeks and return home to the ACC on March 15, against the Rochester Knighthawks. Yes, we will be there!

No comments: