By: Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
The Rochester Knighthawks (2-2) after having a bye week were back in action this past weekend at Blue Cross Arena taking on the high powered Georgia Swarm (3-2) in front of a crowd of 8,770 fans. Unfortunately Rochester’s late surge in the 2nd half wasn’t enough as they fell to the Swarm 13-9.
The scoring wouldn’t begin until almost four minutes into the first where the Swarm would draw first blood from Ethan O’Connor with the assist coming from Miles and Lyle Thompson. Miles Thompson (Earl, White) then would end up giving the Swarm a 2-0 lead at the 8:34 mark in the first. Then no more than a minute later former Knighthawks Johnny Powless would give Georgia a 3-0 lead with the assist coming from Shayne Jackson. The Swarm would get on the board again as Lyle Thompson would score at the 12:56 mark with the assist coming from Staats and King. Georgia would shutout the Knighthawks in the first with 4-0 lead at the end of the first.
The second period would be a great defensive stand still from both teams. However Adam Bomberry would get the Knighthawks on the board first at 6:18 after receiving an amazing outlet pass from Matt Vinc. But Georgia would respond with a Jackson goal at the 8:01 mark with Staats and Matisz giving the assist. The Knighthawks would then answer right back 52 seconds later on a power play goal from Cory Vitarelli (D.Dawson). That would be the end of the scoring heading into the half with the Swarm up 5-2.
Georgia would come out in the beginning of the third and go on a 3-0 run with Johnny Powless grabbing two and Randy Staats getting the third. It wasn’t until the 11:35 mark that Rochester would get back on the board from Craig Point (Keogh, Campbell). The Swarm would go on the power play and get another goal from Staats (King) at 14:08. However, Rochester would answer back with one of their own 25 seconds later coming from Point (D. Dawson, Self). That would bring the third period to a close; but the Swarm would still hold a five goal lead heading into the fourth by the score of 9-4.
It would still be the Swarm’s show as they would score the first goal in the fourth at 1:26 coming from Kiel Matisz (Powless, Tutton). Cody Jamieson (Point, Keogh) would get one back for the Knighthawks at 3:32. Georgia just kept the pressure going as M. Thompson would score at 4:15. The Knighthawks would then rattle off two goals within a minute of each other coming from Campbell and Point. But then the Swarm would answer with two of their own at the 6:27 and 7:00 marks coming from M. Thompson and Jackson. The scoring would then end on two more Rochester goals coming from Vitarelli and Resetarits.
Rochester overall didn’t lack in shot opportunities but with amazing goal tending from the Georgia Swarm’s Brodie MacDonald it held the Knighthawks in check with a 84% save average. Not to count out Matt Vinc who also had an amazing night only allowing the Swarm 13 goals on the night with a 70% save average.
The Knighthawks go on another bye week having some time to regroup and come together to get the ball rolling again as they take on Vancouver February 13th at the Blue Cross Arena. But with Rochester being 2-2 right now they are still only 1 game out of first place in the Division which is currently held by New England.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
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