Harrison Matsuoka contributes on both ends for the NLL's Calgary Roughnecks

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The goal — the whole game, really — is to prove it belongs.

Of course, Harrison Matsuoka had moments for the Calgary Roughnecks. This is expected from those invited to the first round.

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But his effort in last Friday's decisive match was a difference-maker — proof that the kid from Calgary can be a force in the National Lacrosse League.

“Yeah … just trying to help the team as much as I can,” said Matsuoka, who laughed about his contribution to the 12-10 victory over the Saskatchewan Rush at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

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“I think I'm a little more confident than I was — playing like I did in junior high and college, so that's pretty good,” continued the young transition talent. “I'm putting it together and I can help in close games like this.

“So it feels good.”

It's even better because the passing talent's performance got the win when the Riggers needed it most.

Facing the doubleheader Rush over the weekend, they were desperate to get at least one W to keep their playoff hopes alive in the final two weeks of the regular season.

And so a night later in a 12-9 rematch in Saskatoon, the Rush's collapse at home helped keep them within striking distance of the top eight teams in the standings — all of whom earned postseason berths. — Saturday with a crucial contest for the Roughnecks (7-9) against the host New York State Buffalo Bandits (9-7) (5:30 p.m., TSN+).

They will need all hands on deck to pull off this potential win, including Matsuoka's.

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“Honestly, I don't even know,” Matsuoka said when asked to recall how he found the twine behind Rush goaltender Frank Scigliano with his quick stick last weekend. “I saw him after…but I didn't know where he went.”

To refresh everyone's memory, he climbed over Scigliano's shoulder.

Matsuoka, who ripped a long-range bomb from goalkeeper Cristian Del Bianco, failed to see it as he was so impressed by Adam Jay's play.

It was a series of athletic and painful events to achieve a difficult goal.

“Great pass by Delbs,” Matsuoka said. “He put it in the only place he could and it was good for us. Like Delbs QB1.

“When I got my penalty, the guys in the box said I used to be an O guy, but I think it's back. It's been a while since this sort of thing happened.''

Granted, the 6-foot, 180-pounder doesn't score often these days.

He led the NCAA's Stony Brook Seawolves with four goals in three seasons.

And during his five years with the Okotoks Junior A Raiders, it was where the Robert Thirsk High School graduate began his passing game.

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“I used to run a lot when I was younger, so I tried to get back into that game this year,” Matsuoka said. “I mean … when you have guys like Delbs and Jeff (Cornwall) and Zach (Currier) and (Shane) Seamer (Simpson), it's easy. It makes the floor easier and gives you confidence.”

It shows what has become a campaign for the now 25-year-old Matsuoka.

He has now played in at least 15 games in each of his first three NLL seasons, improving his defense year after year as he gets more comfortable.

But this year, he's stepped up to both ends with three goals — he scored twice in a decisive 11-10 road win over the Toronto Rock on the calendar — matching his combined tally for 2021-22. and '22-23.

Roughnecks head coach Josh Sanderson can attest to that, praising Matsuoka for being “really, really good” in last weekend's win.

And the bench boss said the effort was just an extension of the solid season Matsuoka has put in for the Riggers.

“I think his work ethic and his dedication in the offseason helped him improve,” Sanderson said. “He's very coachable, has a great personality and is a great teammate. He seems more confident.

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“That's why I don't think his game has much to do with coaching. It depends on him doing everything right.”

The guy who made it to the Roughnecks with the 14th pick in the 2020 NLL draft echoes that sentiment.

“Yeah … Harrison deserves full credit for his development,” agreed Roughnecks GM Mike Board. “It's a big jump from junior lacrosse to the pros, and he's put in the time and effort to successfully make the transition. He spends his time training. He spends his time studying cinema. His dedication to improving his game is paying off. He found everything.”

Indeed, domestic talent is proving that it belongs.

“Really, going into the draft, you're looking for players who can play in the league,” the board added. “Alberta Lacrosse has produced more and more players over the last five or six years who are regulars on the roster. More Alberta and, indeed, prairie players are being drafted, and they are being drafted in the higher rounds. Kudos to the Alberta and Saskatchewan lacrosse coaches and organizers for all the work they do to develop more players.

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Face-offs and turnovers Justin Inacio (lower body) is out for the Roughnecks … Also for the Riggers are linebacker Robert Hudson (upper body) and forward Brett McIntyre (lower body) … The Bruins have added linebacker Kieran McKay to the active roster on the practice squad.

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