Competitive edge missing in loss
Derek Keenan has no problem putting a finger on it.
In fact, Keenan’s got a fistful of reasons as to why his Saskatchewan Rush came up short in Game 2 of the National Lacrosse League championship final against the Rochester Knighthawks last Saturday. The loss means a third and deciding game in the best-ofthree NLL final will be played back in Saskatoon on Saturday at Sasktel Centre.
Above all, the Rush compete level was lacking, especially compared to Game 1 of the series, says Keenan, the Rush head coach and general manager.
“They out-competed us. They really did,” he said, matter-offactly. “They worked harder than us. They wanted it more than us. They played desperate (lacrosse), which we knew they would.
“For our group, we have to think more about the process than the result. There was a little bit too much of that, thinking about the end result, and forgetting about the hard work that it takes to get to where we want to be.”
The Rush looked practically untouchable in Game 1, surging to a 16-9 victory on the strength of six transition goals, a natural hattrick by Robert Church and seven unanswered goals.
The transition game also accounted for four goals in the NLL’S Western Division final against the Calgary Roughnecks.
Rochester was able to adjust its game plan in Game 2 while Saskatchewan simply failed in executing its own.
They worked harder than us. They wanted it more than us.
“They did a little bit better job of slowing us, yet we had a lot of chances — we just didn’t finish,” assessed Keenan.
“Mark Matthews had three breakaways as a result of transition and didn’t score. We had numerous other opportunities. It was a lack of execution and a little bit of (Rochester goalie Matt) Vinc making great saves and us not shooting well at times.”
Another reason for the loss, added Keenan, was a lack of generating offence through the middle. There was too much perimeter play — another way in which the Rush didn’t battle, Keenan suggested.
“In Game 1, we worked hard and we competed hard in the dirty areas. I thought there was too much of us playing soft and not paying the price in the middle. For us to be successful, that’s where our offence works the best,” he said.
Keenan said he may tweak the lineup for Game 3. If he does, Keenan added, it will be “nothing major” and likely only one or two changes.
Game time is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Sasktel Centre. A pre-game rally is scheduled from 4:30-6 p.m. outside Sasktel Centre.