SASKATOON — The Saskatchewan Rush are one win away from winning their second National Lacrosse League championship in the last three years.
The Rush dumped the Rochester Knighthawks 16-9 in Game 1 of the NLL Championship series before 11,842 spectators at the SaskTel Centre on Saturday.
Robert Church had a four-goal night for the Rush, while Ryan Keenan had a hat trick. Ben McIntosh and Jeff Cornwall each had a pair of goals for Saskatchewan, while Jeremy Thompson, Mark Matthews, Marty Dinsdale, Matt Hossack and Mike Messenger had singles.
Eric Fannell had a pair of goals for the Knighthawks, while Graeme Hossack, Austin Shanks, Joe Resetarits, Cody Jamieson, Josh Currier, Cory Vitarelli and Kyle Jackson had singles.
Evan Kirk turned away 36 shots for the Rush. Matt Vinc stopped 48 shots for the Knighthawks.
Saskatchewan will try to sweep the best-of-three series when the Knighthawks host Game 2 in Rochester on June 2.
If Game 3 is necessary, it will be held on June 9 in Saskatoon.
The Knighthawks won both the head-to-head regular season meetings with the Rush.
Darren Steinke, The Canadian Press
