Burnaby backend helps Stealth to first home win

Two short-handed transition goals and a monster game in goal gave the Vancouver Stealth its first win at home in the National Lacrosse League.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="400"] Matt Beers scored one of two short-handed goals in the Vancouver Stealth's 13-9 win over Saskatchewan. Garrett James photo[/caption]

Burnaby Laker defenders Justin Salt and Matt Beers both scored key third-quarter goals on the shortman, while former Laker netminder Tye Belanger recorded his second win of the pro campaign, stopping 55 shots on goal in Vancouver's 13-9 victory over the West Division leaders Saskatchewan Rush at the LEC on Saturday.

With the win, Belanger moved into third place in overall save percentage with a 0.791 average.

Salt bagged two tallies and Beers got one, one apiece coming while shorthanded on pin-point breakout passes from Belanger. The Stealth keeper also garnered three assists in the club's fourth win of the season.

Saskatchewan's Robert Church had a pair of goals for the Rush.

Beers doubled his season goal production with the 7-6 go-ahead goal to lead off the third period. The 6-3 former 2010 all-rookie team member also had four loose balls and three caused turnovers in the win.

Salt, a sixth-round steal in 2011, is currently three points off a career season with the Stealth after collecting his sixth and seventh goals of the year and his career-high 10th helper. The 6-2 runner also scooped up a game-best nine loose balls for the victorious Vancouver club.

Beers and Salt are currently 11th and 15th overall in total loose balls this season.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200"] Justin Salt tallied three points and a game-high nine loose balls in the Vancouver win. Garrett James photo[/caption]

In Calgary, the Roughnecks shrugged off a five-game losing streak by knocking off the NLL-leading Georgia Swarm 18-11 at the Saddledome on Saturday.

Tyler Digby recorded a five-point night, including a pair of markers, while Calgary teammate and Burnaby product Riley Loewen had a goal and two helpers.

On Friday, Laker lefty Eli McLaughlin had a terrific night, garnering seven points, including four goals in the Colorado Mammoth's 18-9 victory over Calgary at home at the Pepsi Center.

McLaughlin moved into a 13th-place tie with Church and others in overall NLL scoring with 19 goals and 43 total points.