Matt Vinc plays lacrosse like nobody else.
Vinc will be in goal for the Orlando Titans when they visit the Toronto Rock on Saturday night and, once the National Lacrosse League indoor season is over, he'll rejoin the Toronto Nationals as a defenceman as they bid for a second straight Major Lacrosse League field championship.
"The goaltending came first," Vinc says of his split lacrosse personality. "I like playing net, but it's also good to get out there and be more aggressive. The two positions are two totally different mindsets."
There'll be Rock fans who wish Vinc was outdoors, or anywhere at all very far away, on Saturday because the 27-year-old St. Catharines high school phys-ed teacher leads all first-string NLL goalies with a .813 save percentage.
He's coming off a 46-save performance in a 12-11 double overtime home loss to Boston last Saturday, which ended with a Sean Morris goal requiring video review to see if the ball was in before the 30-second limit to get off a shot. Vinc had his eye on the time counter at the far end of the floor.
"I saw the 0 hit before the ball came out of his stick," says Vinc.
Regardless, the Titans (3-2) have shifted their attention to the Rock (6-3), and GM-coach Ed Comeau knows that, if his team is to prevail, Vinc will again have to be at his best.
"Matt's been our most consistent player,"says Comeau. "We rely on him heavily.
"He's really climbing the rankings as a top-level NLL goalie. He has the ability to bail out teammates when they make mistakes."
Vinc played defence for Canada during its 2006 world title run and is on the roster for the 2010 tournament in Manchester, England, in July. Vinc's weekday job helps him stay in top physical condition.
"He's one of our most fit players," says Comeau. "He works hard, leads by example and is a great team guy."
Vinc says the Titans are "a young team and very athletic" and can dominate.
"We're one of the few teams that has a good mix of Canadians and Americans so we play differently than most other teams in the league - a mix between field and box styles. We use our athleticism to create breaks and push the ball up the floor. When we're hitting on all cylinders, we're a tough team to beat."
As for the Rock, they have four of the top five scorers in the NLL. Captain Colin Doyle is first with 56 points, Rock rookie Garrett Billings is second with 54, Washington's Jeff Zywicki and Toronto vet Blaine Manning have 52 each, and Rock rookie Stephan Leblanc has 50.
"Those four guys are ripping up the scoresheets in most games they play," Vinc says of Toronto's offensive leaders. "When you're looking down their roster, you don't know who to key on.
"As a goaltender, it looks like I'll have my hands full. We'll hope our defence can limit their quality chances. Hopefully we come ready to play and I don't feel the pain like a lot of other goaltenders have felt this season."
Comeau lives in Hamilton and is a sales rep for Otis Elevator. With his team's next two games in Toronto and in Buffalo, the break from extended travel is welcomed by the many Canadian-based Titans.
"This week and next week are two quasi home games for a lot of us," says Comeau.
A 14-13 setback in Edmonton last Sunday was Toronto's second straight loss and GM Terry Sanderson is looking for a higher degree of work ethic in this one.
"This will probably be our toughest challenge to date," Sanderson said from Orangeville, Ont., during the NLL's weekly coaches' conference call. "You're measured by how you do against the good clubs and, obviously, these guys are a group to be measured against."
Other NLL games Saturday: Philadelphia (1-6) at Buffalo (2-5), Edmonton (4-3) at Rochester (5-3), Washington (6-2) at Boston (4-4) and Minnesota (3-4) at Colorado (2-5).
Buffalo defenceman Chris Corbeil, who has weekday classes at the University of Western Ontario in London, has a hectic week on his plate.
The NLL rookie from Oakville, Ont., had a Bandits practice in Grimsby, Ont., on Tuesday and was to play left wing for Western's hockey team at home Wednesday against Windsor, Ont. There's a hockey practice Thursday and a game in Windsor on Friday. He'll go to Buffalo after that game so he can be at HSBC Arena for the Bandits' Saturday morning shootaround and then the NLL game. If the best-of-three Western-Windsor playoff goes the max, Corbeil will lace up the skates for the deciding game in London on Sunday, which is usually the one day each week he gets to veg out.
"As busy as I am, I couldn't be happier," says Corbeil. "I get to play two sports I love at very competitive levels.
"I'm grateful for how understanding both my coaches have been. I also owe a lot to my Buffalo teammates for helping me with the transition to the pro ranks. Buffalo has treated me amazingly and I'm confident that we'll be able to turn this season around and raise some eyebrows before the year is through."
Corbeil had a deep inner thigh bruise after being struck by a Cory Bomberry underhand howitzer in his team's NLL season opener but has otherwise avoided injuries in his two-sport pursuits.
"Aside from the regular bumps and bruises that come with playing either sport, I've felt great," he says.
Buffalo might stick with Angus Goodleaf in goal against the Wings after the rookie from Kahnawake, Que., delivered a standout relief effort in the team's last game, a come-from-behind win in Philadelphia on Feb. 13.
"I think that's the way we're leaning right now," says assistant coach Duane Jacobs. "He's a young man with a lot of confidence."
Darris Kilgour of the Bandits is looking for his 93rd NLL coaching win to move him into a tie with the late Les Bartley for most regular-season coaching victories.
Rochester, a 12-6 winner in Philadelphia last Saturday, is back home against an Edmonton club that is 1-3 on the road. The Knighthawks are heavily favoured and a win, coupled with a Toronto loss, would catapult them into first place in the East.
West Division leader Washington goes into Boston having lost two in a row after falling 13-9 at home to Calgary last weekend.
"Our defence has not been playing very well and we're working hard to improve that as fast as we can," said Stealth coach Chris Hall of Victoria.
The ongoing absence of the injured Kyle Sorensen of Peterborough has hurt but the return of Brett Manney of Newtown, Pa., should help shore up the back end in Boston
Minnesota is on the high of a 15-5 home win over punchless Colorado. Ottawa-born Callum Crawford scored four goals, assisted on five and picked up five loose balls in that one and gets the nod as overall NLL player of the week. Coach Mike Lines of St. Catharines has the Swarm surging and a win in Denver would be a big boost towards a playoff spot.
Edmonton's Ryan Powell is offensive player of the week. The native of West Carthage, N.Y., scored four and set up four in the win over Toronto. Billings of Langley, B.C., was named rookie of the week for the third time this season for his three goals and five assists in a losing cause.
Rochester's Steve Toll is transition player of the week. The St. Catharines resident scored two goals and vacuumed up 18 loose balls in the win over the Wings. Teammate Pat O'Toole of Toronto was selected defensive player of the week for making 34 saves in the same game.