Lacrosse: Roughnecks win

By Jon Roe

Though Minnesota came with a swarm, the Calgary Roughnecks weren’t overwhelmed, and exterminated them 15-14 at the Saddledome Sat., Jan. 27.

The game came down to the last two minutes and a one goal Roughnecks lead, not helping head coach Chris Hall’s blood pressure. Hall’s team lead by as much as five goals with seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but saw that advantage wiped out by a four goal Minnesota run.

The Swarm kept up the pressure and had a chance to tie the game with less than a minute left in the fourth. After a stoppage in play, the clock read 17.3 seconds. When play resumed, the clock did not start ticking down until several seconds later. The officials, realizing the screw-up, blew the whistle with 13 seconds reading on the clock and the Swarm holding possession of the ball in Roughnecks’ territory.

The officials eventually decided that 2.6 seconds should be run off, and a face-off was held to determine possession. Play resumed, and the ’Necks held the Swarm off, taking the game by the 15-14 score.

The 3–1 Roughnecks sit tied for second in their division with the Arizona Sting, behind the 5–1 Colorado Mammoth.