Defenseman Eric Martin and the Stealth defense shut down forward Ian Hawksbee and the new-look Edmonton Rush Friday night. The Stealth offense continues to click on all cylinders, as Washington won 15-7 to start 2010 2-0.
STEALTH WIN BIG OVER RUSH, 15-7
Washington moves to 2-0; Edmonton falls in opener
01/16/2010
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Washington dominates Edmonton in Rush Opener. Forward Lewis Ratcliff scores seven points in the 15-7 victory.
By Brett Bowker for NLL.com
Intensity and defense summed up this Week Two contest, as the Washington Stealth (2-0) more than doubled up the Edmonton Rush (0-1), 15-7. Forward Lewis Ratcliff put up seven points on two goals and five assists. He was supported by forwards Rhys Duch and Luke Wiles, who both tallied hat tricks on the night.
Duch opened up scoring for the Stealth two minutes into the game and finished with three goals and an assist. Wiles made his debut against the Rush after missing the first game of the season and much of preseason and training camp due to contractual issues.
The Stealth offense found success on the outside perimeter. Rush goalie Matt Disher appeared to have trouble finding the ball past the Stealth's high screens. Halfway through the second quarter, the Rush replaced Disher with goalie Brandon Atherton. Still, the Stealth led 11-5 at half time.
After one half, the Stealth had eight different goal scorers. It is an offense drastically different from the Colin Doyle led Stealth teams of past seasons, but this new one is perhaps more efficient.
"We are a unit," said forward Rhys Duch. "Coach Hall said at the beginning of the season that we had to work together or else he was going to make changes."
The third quarter did not get much better for the Rush. Washington's defense increased pressure on Edmonton, breaking up their transition and creating turnovers. Edmonton was held scoreless in the stanza.
Forward Jeff Zywicki racked up six points on two goals and four assists. The Stealth's scoring spree was supported by a solid transition element anchored by transition players Jason Bloom and Paul Rabil.
"We have a very athletic defense and depth that makes it very surprising and difficult for teams to play against," said Washington goalkeeper Matt Roik, who earned the game MVP with 50 saves.
The Stealth defense was missing defenders Travis Gillespie and Brett Manney, both out with injuries from last week's game against the Mammoth.
Rush forward Ryan Ward led the team with three points on two goals and one assist. Forward Dean Hill also put up two goals. Edmonton scored their final two goals in the last three minutes of the game.
"The Rush are a good team. We will be playing them again later this season and it will be a different game," said Roik.
The next time the two teams face off will be April 2 in Edmonton.
Up next for the Washington Stealth is the Buffalo Bandits at home in Comcast Arena on January 22 at 11 pm ET. The Edmonton Rush will play tonight in Pepsi Center against the Colorado Mammoth at 9 pm ET.
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