Since losing their first two games of the regular season, the two-time defending champion Saskatchewan Rush have put the rest of the National Lacrosse League on notice that they aren’t willing to give up their crown just yet.

The Rush won their fourth straight game on Saturday night, rolling to a 21-12 victory over the Rochester Knighthawks, who they earned their first win of the season against last month.

Robert Church paced the offence in the win for the Rush as he collected four goals and 11 points, while Mark Matthews also scored four times and finished with ten points. Curtis Knight, Adam Jones, Matthew Dinsdale and Ben McIntosh also scored twice each in the win.

Saskatchewan actually trailed 8-7 at halftime, but then exploded for six goals in the third quarter and eight in the fourth to roll to the lopsided nine-goal win.

Dinsdale (:37) and Matthews (2:27) scored in the opening three minutes of the game to give Saskatchewan an early lead, but Rochester responded with four straight goals, including a pair from Josh Currier, to take a 4-3 lead after one.

The two sides traded goals through the second quarter with the Knighthawks finally getting an edge late in the period to take the one-goal lead into halftime.

Rochester extended their lead just 14 seconds into the second half on a goal from Ian Llord, but that was the only time the Knighthawks found the back of the net in the frame as Saskatchewan would scored six unanswered to end the period and four more in the opening 6:04 of the fourth.

Saskatchewan continued to pour it on as the fourth moved on for the big win.

Goalie Aaron Bold made 36 saves in the win for the Rush, while Saskatchewan fired 55 shots on the Knighthawks’ net. Saskatchewan also dominated the loose ball battle 82-58, while also winning 24-of-37 face-offs.

The Rush now sit at 4-2 on the year, a half-game in front of the Colorado Mammoth for top spot in the West Division.

Saskatchewan and Colorado will meet for the first time this season coming up this Saturday at SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon.