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Failure to launch — Stealth offence grounded in Toronto

Vancouver scores season-low seven goals in loss to Rock, look to make amends when Toronto visits Langley Events Centre
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Vancouver's Corey Small stares down Calgary's Frankie Scigliano during a National Lacrosse League game at the Langley Events Centre back in January. Small had a goal and three assists on Saturday but the Stealth fell 13-7 to the Rock in Toronto.

It is back to the drawing board for the Vancouver Stealth.

The Stealth went back east to face the Toronto Rock, but their offence produced a season-low in a 13-7 loss, their second consecutive National Lacrosse League defeat.

The game was played Saturday at Toronto’s Air Canada Centre.

The loss dropped Vancouver to 5-8 on the season with five games remaining, and their grip on the final playoff position in the West Division is down to a half game over the 5-9 Calgary Roughnecks.

Toronto improved to 8-5 and pulled to within a half game of the first-place Georgia Swarm in the East Division.

The Rock had played the night before in Georgia while Vancouver was waiting for them in Toronto.

“We should have been well-rested. We had eight days off, but we looked tired,” Stealth head coach Jamie Batley said.

“They had lots of energy and we were not able to match that and we looked tired and that’s the way we played.”

Rhys Duch opened the scoring for the Stealth 6:34 into the contest but the Rock responded with three goals to close the quarter. Toronto blew the game open in the second quarter with five of the six goals to lead 8-2 at the half.

Vancouver cut the lead to four with consecutive goals to open the second half but the Rock got those back for a 10-4 lead after three. The Stealth would never get any closer than four.

Jordan Durston had two goals and an assist while Duch scored twice. Corey Small had a goal and three assists and Cory Conway set up four goals.

Justin Salt, who also had an assist, and James Rahe had the other Vancouver goals.

Tye Belanger gave up a dozen goals on 54 shots.

The two teams complete their home-and-home series this Friday at the Langley Events Centre. Game time is 7:30 p.m.