With New York tying it up three times late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, Colorado desperately sought a sustained shift in momentum and finally found it on goals by Brian Langtry and rookie Matt Danowski and timely defense.
Avoiding the longest home losing streak in its eight-year history, the Mammoth defeated the Titans 12-8 on Saturday night before 15,023 at the Pepsi Center.
Colorado (2-2) moved into a tie with Portland for third place in the National Lacrosse League’s West Division.
Goaltender Andrew Leyshon, in his starting debut in place of the injured Gee Nash, made 31 saves, including some timely stops from point-blank range.
“Of course, starting the game you take on added responsibility,” he said. “We needed a home win.”
The Titans were limited to two power plays on six chances, and NLL scoring leader Casey Powell was held to three goals, one below his average, while being pestered by 260-pound defenseman Bruce Murray.
“He did a great job,” Powell said. “I thought I could take him to the cage, but he had a lot of help.”
Colorado’s offense, which was averaging only 8.6 goals, remains a work in progress, but the pick-setting, cutting and closer shots sought by coach Bob McMahon and new offensive coordinator Dan Perreault were evident.
“Even when it wasn’t successful early, we didn’t panic and go back to bad habits and it rewarded later,” said McMahon, whose team led 1-0 after the first quarter and 5-3 at halftime.
Langtry ended a six-quarter scoreless drought with a spectacular goal in the second quarter, catching a pass on a cut through the slot and diving through the air while shooting behind-the-back. His second goal off a high-speed perimeter shot made it 8-7 just 39 seconds into the fourth quarter.
Danowski, a first-round pick from Duke playing box lacrosse for the first time, netted a hat trick, scoring twice off screens by Gavin Prout and providing a crucial 9-7 advantage with a wraparound goal from behind the net that surprised New York keeper Matt Vinc.
“If I didn’t expect to do it, he wouldn’t expect to see it,” Danowski said. “I saw Langtry do it our first game, and I thought I’d give it a shot.”
New York 0 3 3 2 — 8
Colorado 1 4 2 5 — 12
N.Y. — Powell 3 goals-2 assists-5 points; Maddalena 2-2-4, Hall 1-3-4, McLellan 1-1-2, Gailbraith 1-0-1, Mundorf 0-2-2, Zash 0-1-1, Peyser 0-1-1. CM — Danowski 3-0-3, Carey 2-3-5, Langtry 2-2-4, Prout 2-2-4, Shewchuk 1-4-5, Gajic 1-0-1, Ethington 1-0-1, Rosyski 0-3-3, Carlson 0-2-2, Leyshon 0-1-1, Gallant 0-1-1, Safarik 0-1-1.
Goaltenders — N.Y.: Vinc, 38 saves; CM: Leyshon, 31 saves.
