Calgary Roughnecks' Challenging Season Deepens with Home Loss to Saskatchewan Rush
The Calgary Roughnecks' 2025-26 National Lacrosse League campaign continues to be a difficult one, as evidenced by their recent 14-8 home defeat to the Saskatchewan Rush on Friday evening. The loss at Scotiabank Saddledome drops the Roughnecks to just one victory in seven games this season, highlighting significant struggles for the team.
Early Promise Fades Quickly Against Elite Opposition
Despite entering the game as underdogs against the Rush—who improved to an impressive 7-1 record—the Roughnecks actually began the contest with surprising energy and effectiveness. The home team jumped out to an early 3-0 lead within the first quarter, with young talent Brayden Mayea opening the scoring just 35 seconds into the game. Veteran Riley Loewen added another goal merely 22 seconds later, while Tanner Cook contributed the third marker midway through the opening period.
This promising start represented exactly what the struggling Roughnecks needed against elite competition. However, as head coach Josh Sanderson noted post-game, the team's intensity dropped significantly after those initial minutes. "We came out with some really good energy, got up 3-1, and then we dropped our intensity a bit," Sanderson told reporters. "We started that game in the first 10 minutes, and we keep them on the sides. And then we stopped being physical, and they did whatever they wanted."
Offensive Struggles and Defensive Breakdowns Prove Costly
The Roughnecks' early lead proved unsustainable as their offense fell silent after the initial three goals. The team failed to score again until the third quarter, creating a significant scoring drought that allowed the Rush to seize control of the game. Meanwhile, the Saskatchewan offense found its rhythm in the second quarter, scoring six goals against Roughnecks goaltender Aden Walsh.
Coach Sanderson identified several critical areas where his team was outplayed by the Rush. "They killed us on the face-offs. They killed us on compete and on loose balls," he explained. "I don't remember us winning very many 50/50 battles, and we knew how important that was coming in. Saskatchewan just wanted it more. You wouldn't think so, with them being 6-1 and us being 1-5, but that's how she turned out."
Season Context and Future Challenges
The Roughnecks entered this season facing significant challenges following the departure of veteran stars and the integration of younger players into the roster. While some growing pains were expected, the team had hoped to develop chemistry quickly enough to remain competitive for a playoff position. Unfortunately, that development has been slower than anticipated, particularly against top-tier opponents like the Rush who have featured prominently in their early-season schedule.
The 14-8 final score reflects not just a single disappointing performance but rather the continuation of troubling patterns that have plagued the Roughnecks throughout the young season. As the team looks ahead to future matchups, addressing issues of consistency, physicality, and offensive production will be essential to turning their fortunes around in what has become a challenging NLL campaign.
