WATCH ABOVE: The Edmonton Rush accept the Champion’s Cup after an 11-10 win over the Toronto Rock Friday night.
EDMONTON – Mark Matthews scored five goals and added three assists as the Edmonton Rush won the National Lacrosse League’s Champion’s Cup on Friday by defeating the Toronto Rock 11-10 in Game 2 of the best-of-three final.
Robert Church had a pair of goals while Jeff Cornwall, Zack Greer, Ben McIntosh and Matthew Dinsdale also scored for the Rush.
Edmonton swept the first-ever NLL final between two Canadian teams.
It was the Rush’s first NLL championship win, coming in their 10th season.
Rob Hellyer, Kasey Beirnes and Colin Doyle each had two goals for the Rock, who came up short in their drive for a record seventh championship. Josh Sanderson, Kevin Crowley, Stephan Leblanc and Jeff Gilbert also scored for Toronto.
The first quarter proved to be a defensive struggle, as Toronto emerged with a 2-1 lead on goals by captain Sanderson and Hellyer on Rush goalie Aaron Bold. The Rush responded with a goal by Cornwall on Rock starter Brandon Miller.
The Rush had a late surge in the second to take a 5-4 lead into the half as Matthews scored a pair of goals, including one with just 0.1 seconds remaining on the clock.