The Vancouver Warriors (5-9) head to Las Vegas to take on the Desert Dogs (4-10) at Michelob Ultra Arena on Saturday. Vancouver holds a 3-1 record against the NLL’s most recent expansion franchise and is looking to extend their two-game win
The two teams met for the first time this season just two weeks ago, and Vancouver battled back from a 7-2 deficit in the second quarter to take the game 13-12. The top scorers for the Warriors in that game were Adam Charalambides with four goals and four assists, Ryan Martel scored four and Keegan Bal had a hat trick along with six apples.
The Warriors are coming off two consecutive wins against the Philadelphia Wings in Philly and Desert Dogs at Rogers Arena. In Philly, Vancouver came out of the gate hot against the Wings, taking a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. The Wings battled back, and the Warriors only held a 9-7 lead at the half, but Vancouver was firing on all cylinders in the second half scoring 12 goals to Philly’s 5.
Bal led the Warriors with eight goals and five assists, becoming just the third player in the NLL to score eight goals in a game this season.
Martel had four goals and four helpers and Riley Loewen notched a career-high 10-piece (3 goals, 7 assists).
Brayden Laity scored his first NLL goal and Owen Grant, Kevin Crowley, Ryan Dilks, Brad McCulley, and Kyle Killen all chipped in a goal.
Goaltender Aden Walsh has a 3-4 record this season and turned aside 34 shots for the win between the pipes for the Warriors last game.
After a monster game, Keegan Bal is now the top scorer for Vancouver with 33 goals and 42 assists for 75 points through 14 games. Charalambides, who had seven assists in Philadelphia has the second-most points with 74 (28-46-74).
The Warriors continue their strong defensive play and are third in the NLL on the penalty kill — posting a 61% success rate. Veteran defender Ryan Dilks leads the league in forced turnovers with 38. Meanwhile, Reid Bowering reached the 500 loose balls collected milestone against the Wings and is leading the team with 82 collected this season.
Expect a tight contest between Vancouver and Las Vegas who are neck and neck in both goals scored per game (Warriors’ average 10.7 goals to the Desert Dogs’ 10) and goals against per game (Vancouver averages 11.64 goals to Vegas’ 12.36).
The Desert Dogs return home after an 10-9 overtime loss to the San Diego Seals last week.
Captain Rob Hellyer and Zach Greer had two goals and two assists and other scorers for Las Vegas were Jack Hannah, Dylan Watson, Casey Jackson, Marshal King and Connor Kirst. Goaltender Landon Kells recorded a season-high 54 saves in the loss.
Kirst also collected seven loose balls and leads Las Vegas with 105 loose balls collected.
Hellyer leads Las Vegas with 68 points (20-48-60), Hannah has 23 goals and 36 assists, and Jackson is the top goal scorer with 35 to go along with his 21 assists.
Desert Dogs’ forward Casey Jackson is also one of three players to have an eight-goal game this season and he posted against the Warriors.
For season tickets, group tickets, suites, and individual tickets, and Spring Break Camp information head to www.vancouverwarriors.com.
