The Colorado Mammoth dropped a 10-6 decision Saturday evening at Dickies Arena as Panther City recorded its fifth-consecutive win in the Western Conference matchup, which was broadcasted nationally on ESPNU.
After bringing a four-goal lead into the second quarter, Panther City was able to hold off another Mammoth comeback via the quality goaltending services of Nick Damude and its youthful offensive core of players.
Mammoth goaltender Dillon Ward had an amazing game himself, stopping 39-of-49 and keeping Colorado in the game until a late Panther City surge. Chris Wardle headlined Colorado’s attack Saturday (3g, 0), while Ryan Lee (0g, 3a), Connor Robinson (1g, 1a), Eli McLaughlin (0g, 2a) and Zed Williams (1g, 0a) rounded out scoring.
Rookie Josh Medeiros opened the contest’s scoring early for Panther City, as the first-year defenseman logged a marker 14 seconds into the game.
Former Mammoth forward Will Malcom later gained leverage inside his defender and drew a penalty, which quickly led to a Cam Milligan power-play conversion.
Three minutes later, Malcom found space after a series of picks at the point and sent a bid past Mammoth goaltender Dillon Ward with just under five minutes to play in the opening quarter.
Lacrosse Club forward Phil Caputo kept the early scoring streak going by finishing the end of a broken play with a four-on-one effort to give the home team a four-goal lead, which they carried into the second quarter.
After a scoreless 10 minutes of second-period action, defenseman Erik Turner got the Mammoth on the board with a transition tally, as he and teammate Joey Cupido completed the two-on-two opportunity.
Milligan recorded his second of the night via the power-play at the 11:11 mark, as Colorado was called for its second illegal substitution in the first half.
Mammoth forward Chris Wardle logged his 11th of the year with 42 seconds remaining in the half to bring Colorado within three heading into the break.
As the result of a slashing penalty called on defenseman Warren Jeffrey, Panther City reinstated its four-goal lead with five minutes left in the third.
Mammoth forward Connor Robinson extended his career-best goal streak during Colorado’s next possession, as C-Rob turned the jets on and sped by his defender and along the crease before converting past Lacrosse Club goaltender Nick Damude.
Wardle reduced Panther City’s lead to two with two minutes remaining in the third, as the forward came off a screen and fired a side armed bouncer past Damude, creating a 6-4 game heading into the final period.
Wardle completed his hat-trick effort Saturday evening less than a minute into the fourth quarter, as the forward rolled off a pick and sent another conversion past Damude to bring Colorado back within one.
Dean Fairall ended Panther City’s scoring drought at the 6:31 mark to create a 7-5 game before rookie Patrick Dodds extended the Lacrosse Club’s lead to three with a tally two minutes later.
On the ensuing Mammoth possession, forward Zed Williams drew a holding penalty after gaining crease-side position on his defenseman, but was able to score on the play, negating the penalty and establishing an 8-6 contest.
Rookie forward Nathan Grenon logged a late goal for Panther City to create a 9-6 contest before Liam Byrnes recorded an empty-netter to solidify a 10-6 final at Dickies Arena Saturday.
Colorado will now prepare to host three opponents in nine days at The Loud House, beginning on April 2 during the team’s Military Appreciation Night.
Through 13 contest contests, forward Ryan Lee continues to pace Colorado players with 84 points and 56 assists while teammate Connor Robinson paces the team with 31 goals. Mammoth captain Robert Hope’s 21 caused turnovers and 108 loose balls both qualify as team-best totals.
Tickets to Colorado’s April 2 Military Appreciation Night matchup against the Buffalo Bandits, and all Mammoth home games, can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com. Mammoth road games can be streamed live via ESPN+.
