By: Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
After losing a close home opener to the Colorado Mammoth, the Rochester Knighthawks began a two game series with the Toronto Rock this past week. Thursday Rochester traveled to the Toronto Rock for game number one of the series. Rochester would take game one from the Toronto Rock 12-7. As both teams had a day to prepare for round number two it sure wouldn’t be disappointing to any lacrosse fan. The second game started off as a defensive standoff until first blood was drawn by the Toronto Rock getting on the board first with a power play goal from Colin Doyle (Rob Hellyer, Dan Lintner) at the 7:33 mark.
It would then be another defensive stand still until Jordan Hall (Cody Jamieson, Stephen Keogh) evened the score with a power play goal at 3:46. However Colin Doyle (Dan Lintner, Rob Hellyer) after a minute of play would answer again with his second goal of the night giving Toronto a 2-1 lead with 2:43 left in the first period.
Toronto would carry the lead into the second period. With time still left in the power play from the first period Cody Jamieson (Stephen Keogh) would score in 28 seconds of the beginning of the second period making it even at 2-2. This would just be the start as the Knighthawks put the gas pedal to the floor board and have a 6 goal period. Dan Dawson would notch a hat trick, with Joe Resetarits and Cory Vitarelli adding goals. Rochester’s defense and amazing play from Vinc would deny Toronto any scoring in the second period.
It would be another standoff until 5:20 into the third period when Rochester would strike again as Dan Dawson would add his fourth goal of the night with the assist coming from Stephen Keogh and Joe Resetarits. Toronto wouldn’t get back on the board until 8 minutes into the 3rd period with a goal from Brett Hickey (Colin Doyle, Rob Hellyer). High Flying Dan Dawson would then get goal number five of the night on a power play 10:46 into the 3rd with an assist coming from Jordan Hall and Cody Jamieson. Rob Hellyer would add a goal for Toronto a minute later unassisted. To finish out the 3rd period Adam Bomberry would find Cody Jamieson for a Rochester goal with 40 seconds left in the period. Rochester would carry a 10-4 lead going into the 4th period.
The fourth period of play would then go back to defensive stand still as the Knighthawks would only add two more goals coming from Stephen Keogh (Cody Jamieson) and hometown product Joe Walters (Joe Resetarits, Cody Jamieson). Toronto would only add one more goal for the night from Rob Hellyer (Colin Doyle).
Most of Rochester’s goals came from power play opportunities as the Knighthawks were 6 of 7 (85%) with Toronto only capitalizing on 1 of 4 (25%) power play opportunities. There was no doubt the Rochester Knighthawks had control of this game right from the beginning with Vinc being superb in goal along with Rochester’s defense playing lights out and the offense capitalizing on their opportunities of the night giving Rochester a 2-1 record and dropping Toronto to 0-3.
The Rochester Knighthawks will be back in action January 30th as they host the Georgia Swarm at the Blue Cross Arena.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
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