Riggers Outlast Rock

By: Riley Pollock – 10.02.24

On the back of five transition goals and eight different goal scorers, the Roughnecks ended their three-game losing streak hanging on for an 11-10 victory over the Toronto Rock.

The Roughnecks move to 3-5 while Toronto falls to 6-2

It was the Riggers turning the tides from last week and scoring the first of the game as Jesse King bounced one five-hole on Nick Rose during a delayed penalty to make it 1-0.

Toronto answered on the powerplay with a five-hole shot of their own from the top of the crease to make it 1-1.

Harrison Matsuoka got his second goal of the season during a three-on-one transition break to make the score 2-1.

Tyler Pace struck on the Roughnecks first powerplay of the night on a far-side shot to make the score 3-1.

Toronto Scored through a screen late in the first-quarter to make it 3-2.

Robert Hudson scored his first NLL goal in his first game with the Roughnecks with under one-second to go in the quarter. The Riggers led 4-2 after one.

The Rock struck for the second time on the powerplay with just over five-minutes gone in the second-quarter to make it 4-3.

Haiden Dickson forced a turnover right on the Toronto crease, scooped the ball and dunked it home to make the score 5-3.

Toronto got within one once again off a rebound. The score was 5-4.

The Rock tied the game 5-5 shortly after.

The Riggers got the lead back as Shane Simpson ripped one low in transition to make it 6-5 heading into the second-half.

Hudson got his second of the night early in the second-half in transition to make the score 7-5.

The Riggers got their fifth transition goal of the night on a beautiful pass from Christian Del Bianco to Matsuoka for his second of the night to make the score 8-5.

Josh Currier found the back of the net to extend the Roughnecks run to four goals. The score was 9-5.

King fired from the outside to put the ‘Necks up by five, 10-5.

The Rock finally ended the run on the powerplay early in the fourth-quarter to make it 10-6.

They would strike again quickly to make it a three-goal game, 10-7.

Thomas Hoggarth answered for the Roughnecks from his office to make the score 11-7 Riggers.

Toronto beat Del Bianco again to make it 11-8.

The Rock got another powerplay goal shortly after to get within two, 11-9.

It became a one-goal game with six-minutes to go as the Rock continued the run. It was 11-10.

Toronto took a penalty with 1:53 remaining. They got the ball and a timeout with 17-seconds left but were unable to get a shot off and the Roughnecks held on for the 11-10 win.

UP NEXT

The Roughnecks are back home for the East Coast Kitchen Party Feb. 18 against Halifax.

STAT PACK

Jesse King: 2g, 3a

Tyler Pace: 1g, 2a

Robert Hudson: 2g

Harrison Matsuoka: 2g

Tanner Cook: 2a

Thomas Hoggarth: 1g

Josh Currier: 1g

Haiden Dickson: 1g

Shane Simpson: 1g

Zach Currier: 1a, 13lb

Christian Del Bianco: 1a, 39 saves