630 CHED Sports
4/21/2012
Shawn Evans had four goals and added an assist as the Calgary Roughnecks clinched first place in the National Lacrosse League's West Division with a 9-6 victory over the Edmonton Rush on Saturday.
Jeff Shattler and Nolan Heavenor each had two goals and Dane Dobbie also scored for the Roughnecks (12-4), who closed out the regular season with seven wins in their last eight games.
Kyle Rubisch, Aaron Wilson, Tom Johnson, Brett Mydske, Shawn Williams and Ryan Ward replied for the Rush (6-9), who had a two-game winning streak snapped but had already secured a playoff spot on Friday night with a victory over Colorado.
Some very strong goaltending to start the game from both Calgary's Frankie Scigliano and Edmonton's Aaron Bold almost resulted in a scoreless first quarter- something unheard of in the NLL. But with less than a second remaining Rubisch intercepted a pass and fired it the length of the field, catching the Roughneck's gambling with an extra man on the field and an empty net.
It was the latest opening goal in league history.
Calgary bounced back with a pair of quick power-play goals by Evans early in the second quarter to lead 2-1.
The Rush play the Toronto Rock next on April 28 down at Rexall Place. (The Canadian Press/gb)
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