NLL roundup: Rock stun Rush to advance to semifinal round

Toronto will next face San Diego Seals

Published Apr 26, 2026  •  4 minute read

Toronto Rock logo Photo by Toronto Rock /Toronto Rock

The Toronto Rock began the National Lacrosse League playoffs as the sixth seed in the eight-team field. But it will continue this coming weekend as one of the title favourites.

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After a crazy weekend where the top three seeds were upset at home, and where the reign of the three-time league champions came to an end, the Rock will now have home-floor advantage in the second round. Toronto earned it with a solid 16-13 win over the Saskatchewan Rush on Saturday.

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It was a performance not unlike several during the second half of the regular season.

“It’s win or go home and we got out to a good lead and we stuck with the game,” head coach Matt Sawyer said. “We felt if we could play our best, we were going to be successful and we found that for long enough here tonight.”

The night started well for the visitors at SaskTel Centre. Chris Boushy scored three times and Josh Dawick scored on two long-range shots as the Rock took a 6-2 lead after one. The Rush stormed back in the second to even the game but Latrell Harris gave Toronto an 8-7 lead at the break after he stole the ball at the top of the defensive zone and raced down the floor on a transition breakaway.

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The Rock overcame giving up the first two goals of the third, getting three of their own including one from Mark Matthews with 3.6 seconds left in the quarter to keep an 11-9 advantage. Boushy, who ended up with five on the night, was one of the scorers in the final period. The Rush scored three times with an extra attacker to keep the score respectable.

CJ Kirst and Josh Dawick had three goals each. Brad Kri, Hugh Kelleher and Elijah Gash all had transition goals. Goaltender Nick Rose had 49 saves in the win.

“We knew, especially in this league and in playoffs, it’s never going to be easy, there’s always going to be pushback,” Dawick said. “The resolve that we showed was awesome.”

“When you have Rosey in the net and our defense back there, they’re always going to hold it down. Just a real, real big team win.”

Robert Church and Austin Shanks had three each for the Rush. Ryan Keenan scored twice. Levi Anderson, Ryan Barnable, Brock Haley, Connor McClelland, and Zach Manns also scored.

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SEALS WIN IN OVERTIME

The Rock will face the San Diego Seals in the second round after relentless offensive pressure by the Seals in the first minute of overtime resulted in a goal by Tre Leclaire 59 seconds in, giving the seventh-seed a 13-12 upset over the Colorado Mammoth.

The Mammoth went on a 5-2 run early in the third quarter to build a 11-7 lead but San Diego answered with a 5-0 run on their own. Dylan McIntosh scored his third goal for Colorado late in the fourth to send the game to overtime.

Wes Berg, Dylan Watson and Zach Currier all had hat tricks for the Seals. Andrew Kew had four goals for Colorado.

BANDITS RUN ENDS

The Buffalo Bandits have been part of the past five NLL finals, winning the past three. But on Saturday, they were firmly dismissed 17-10 by the Georgia Swarm.

A four-goal run in the second quarter broke the game open for Georgia, NLL rookie-of-the-year candidate Nolan Byrne scored two of his three goals as the Swarm built a 9-5 lead. The Swarm scored three more times in the third and was in full control to the end.

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Lyle Thompson ended up leading Georgia with four goals. Richie Connell and Shayne Jackson also had hat tricks. Ian MacKay had a hat trick for the Bandits.

Buffalo may undergo a lot of change in the off-season with veterans Matt Vinc and Paul Dawson possibly having played their final games.

HISTORIC COMEBACK FOR THUNDERBIRDS

The Vancouver Warriors showed why they were the top team in the NLL this season, for a half. Then the eighth-seeded Halifax Thunderbirds staged an incredible comeback to steal a 10-7 win and earn a second-round date with the Swarm.

Vancouver led 7-1 at Rogers Arena heading to halftime, sparked by a 5-0 second-quarter run which included three goals from Keegan Bal. Then with under seven minutes to play in the third quarter, the Halifax run began with an outside shot by Cody Jamieson. Just over six minutes later, spearheaded by three goals from Jason Knox, the Thunderbirds tied the game.

Jake Withers put the Thunderbirds ahead four minutes into the final period and Halifax pulled away from there. Halifax ended with 71 shots on goaltender Christian Del Bianco while Warren Hill had a 36-save performance in the net for the Thunderbirds.

Read More

1. 

   NLL roundup: Toronto Rock rebound for win over San Diego Seals

2. 

   NLL roundup: Rock fall in overtime to next weekend's playoff opponent

SEMI-FINAL SCHEDULE (Times EDT)

#7 Halifax Thunderbirds vs #6 Toronto Rock
Friday, May 1 at Hamilton, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 3 at San Diego, 6 p.m.
*Saturday, May 9 at Hamilton, 7 p.m.

#7 San Diego Seals vs. #4 Georgia Swarm
Saturday, May 2 at Georgia, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 9 at Halifax, 7 p.m.
*Sunday, May 10, TBA

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