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CALGARY TOPS NEW YORK TO WIN CHAMPIONSHIP

Sanderson named Reebok MVP for two goal, three assist performance

05/13/2009

The Calgary Roughnecks capped a stellar season by topping the New York Titans, 12-10, in front of 13,042 fans at Pengrowth Saddledome, to win their second NLL Championship in franchise history.

Josh Sanderson led a balanced Roughnecks attack, and was awarded Reebok Championship Game MVP for his two goal, three assist performance.

After a tightly contested first half, Calgary scored twice in the final 30 seconds of the second quarter to take a 6-4 halftime lead. Josh Sanderson scored with 30 seconds left, before Kaleb Toth's buzzer-beater from the point-line put the Roughnecks up by two at the break.

New York tied the game on Brendan Mundorf's goal 42 seconds into the fourth quarter, but Calgary scored three straight to take a 10-7 lead.

Powell's goal at 8:15 of the fourth quarter ended the Titans scoring drought and cut the deficit to two goals. Minutes later, Powell dived through the crease to cut the score to 10-9.

With under one minute remaining, and Titans goaltender Matt Vinc pulled for the extra attacker, Bruce Codd came up with a loose ball and found Mike Carnegie, who beat Vinc to the empty net to bury the eventual game-winner.

Codd put the nail in the coffin with another empty-netter off Nolan Heavenor's faceoff win.

Ryan Boyle's goal with 28 seconds remaining cut the score to 12-10, but the Roughnecks were able to run out the clock to secure the win.

Dane Dobbie and Codd each had two goals for Calgary, while Kaleb Toth, Tracey Kelusky, Curt Malawsky, Scott Ranger and Carnegie added singles. Toth added five assists.

Matt King, who served as backup to Curtis Palidwor when the Roughnecks won the title in 2004, earned the win in goal with 32 saves.

Powell led New York with four goals, while Mundorf added two. Pat Maddalena added five points a goal and four helpers. Vinc made 38 saves in the loss.