From a goalie making a spectacular save that gets the crowd hyped to a defender laying a big hit to dislodge the ball, there are many ways to gain momentum in the game of lacrosse. However, the best way is through the offence scoring goals. Unfortunately, through two games, the Rock goal-scoring-gang hasn’t been able to find their rhythm and impact the result.
“I just think we need to clean it up all over the floor,” said Rock forward Josh Dawick the offence’s performance in two straight losses to open the season. “We generated some good looks last Saturday against Albany but at the end of the day, generating good looks isn’t what’s going to win you lacrosse games.”
The Rock came into this season as one of the league’s top teams, having finished atop the NLL regular season standings with a 15-3 record last spring.
“Obviously, it’s a long season, and we have trust in this group,” said Dawick. “We just have to stay positive and optimistic.”
The offence has unfortunately been hit by the injury bug with the team’s most dynamic weapon, Tom Schreiber finding his way to the Injured Reserve List with a lower body injury, unrelated to his PLL season-ending shoulder injury. The man affectionately known as ‘Captain America’ did play in the Rock’s first game against Ottawa and recorded an assist. Another player that has historically stepped up on the offensive side of the ball when a righty forward is out of the lineup is captain Challen Rogers. However, Rogers hasn’t seen action since suffering a lower body injury in the Rock’s final preseason game against Philadelphia.
One point of emphasis that’s been on the offence’s mind is simple strategies.
“Going hard off the bench to the middle of the floor to create havoc and make the defence have to play us a little harder,” veteran forward Cory Small said of what Rock assistant coach Rusty Kruger has emphasized. “Not being flat footed, just moving our feet, getting ourselves into space and giving ourselves opportunities to score in the prime scoring areas.”
With the Rock being outscored 26-9 in the first two games, the offensive group is aware they need to step up, especially the leaders in the locker room.
“I think probably our veterans need to kind of pick up some of the slack there,” said Small. “I think the young guys have come in and done a fantastic job, but us as leaders need to do better.”
Dawick and Small have been a part of the Rock organization for three seasons and have been able to produce in big moments. Through two games the group has been unable to show that this season and are cognizant of what they need to do individually to increase the goal totals on the scoreboard.
“For me, it’s just dialing in my shot a little bit, getting some extra reps at practice, maybe taking an extra trip to the TRAC to shoot,” Small said when thinking about what he needs to focus on.
For Dawick, it’s more the systematics and finding the open spot on the floor that he wants to focus on. “Really just getting into a flow, especially early in the game along with putting myself in situations where I can capitalize and put the ball in the net.”
The last time the Rock began the season with an 0-2 record, they failed to qualify for the playoffs back in 2018. Seven current players were a part of that team including the likes of Rogers and Schreiber. In that season, the Rock finished with an 8-10 record, but were above .500 at 5-4 on the road.
“We have trust in this locker room and know we can produce a better effort in Georgia this weekend,” said Dawick optimistically. “We know what we have to do, and just have to continue to battle and get better as quickly as possible.”
Toronto will be travelling to Georgia to take on a hot Swarm team who began their season last week at home winning a thriller in overtime against the San Diego Seals 13-12. Despite the Swarm allowing double-digit goals, their defence shut down a strong Seals attack in the second half, limiting them to just three goals.
Another facet of the game the Rock will have to get better at is faceoffs. With ‘The Man at the Dot’ TD Ierlan still out with a lower body injury, Toronto has won just eight of 43 draws this season for a win rate of 19%, while the Swarm managed to win 12 in their season opener.
Saturday night will be another opportunity to get in the win column. Fans can stream the game at 7:30pm ET on NLL+ and TSN+. The Rock will be back at home on Saturday, December 28 for a Pre-NYE Party when they host the Ottawa Black Bears at Paramount Fine Foods Centre in Mississauga in the second installment of the Battle of Ontario at 7pm ET.
For more information on Toronto Rock tickets, please contact a Toronto Rock account executive by phone at 416-596-3075, by email at tickets@torontorock.com or visit torontorock.com.
