Denver, Colo. (WGR 550) - There's one particular phrase that is preached across all levels of lacrosse, from high school, to college, to the National Lacrosse League - lacrosse is a game of runs.
It was proven true once again on Saturday, as the Colorado Mammoth defeated the Buffalo Bandits, 11-8, in Game 2 of the NLL Finals to stay alive in the best-of-three series.
The Mammoth were able to take control of Saturday night's game on home court thanks, in part, to a six-goal run in the fourth quarter.
With their backs against the wall, the Mammoth had to bring their all to stave off elimination. However, they were tasked with doing it shorthanded.
Just hours before Saturday's opening faceoff, the Mammoth announced forward Eli McLaughlin, the NLL's leading goal scorer this postseason, was placed on the Injured Reserve List.
The first quarter of play only yielded one goal by both teams combined. Mammoth forward Zedd Williams - hailing from Irving, New York - tallied the only goal to give Colorado a 1-0 lead.
The Bandits appeared to score a goal to tie it, but it was waved off by the officials. The call was confirmed by the officiating crew after the Bandits elected to challenge the call. Mammoth goaltender Dillon Ward stopped 10 shots to that point.
The Mammoth took a 2-0 lead early in the second quarter thanks to forward Connor Robinson's first goal of the game.
Buffalo responded well with a five-goal run, spanning most of the second quarter to take a 5-2 lead. Bandits forwards Dhane Smith scored twice, while Ian McKay, Josh Byrne and Chris Cloutier all tallied goals during the run. Cloutier's power play goal capped the five-goal run at the 10:25 mark of the second quarter, and sent Bandits fans in Western New York into a frenzy.
Williams' second goal of the game put a stop to the Bandits' run. In response, Byrne scored his second goal of the game by taking flight, in signature fashion, to put the Bandits ahead 6-3 with under one minute left in the second quarter.
It was Colorado who got the last laugh before halftime. Robinson's second goal of the night lessened Buffalo's lead to 6-4 just before the buzzer sounded to end the first half of play.
Bandits led the Mammoth in shots on goal, 27-22.
Each team traded goals within the first two minutes of the third quarter. Williams scored his third of the evening for the Mammoth, then Cloutier scored his second of the game to give Buffalo a 7-5 lead. Robinson netted his third goal of the night to bring Colorado to within one with 11:27 left in the third quarter. It was the last goal scored in the third quarter.
Bandits forward Kyle Buchanan opened the fourth quarter, showing great awareness and athleticism, taking flight after grabbing a rebound off a missed shot to score his first goal of the game to put the Bandits up 8-6.
After that goal by Buffalo, the Mammoth kicked it into high gear and exceeded the Bandits' game-high five-goal run with their six-goal run. Mammoth forwards Brett McIntyre and Williams scored twice during the run, while Dylan Kinnear and Tyson Gibson also contributed offensively to close out the scoring at 11-8.
As Buffalo tried to claw back from their three-goal deficit, Ward and the Mammoth defense stonewalled the Bandits' efforts. The metaphorical dagger was driven through the Bandits' hearts, as frustrations boiled over and Buffalo combined for 11 penalty minutes in the last minute of play.
The Bandits will set out for their first title in 14 years when they host Colorado in Game 3 on Saturday, June 18 at KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo. Coverage of Game 3 of the NLL Finals can be heard on WGR Sports Radio 550.
***Photo: Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits)