FURIOUS BLACK WOLVES RALLY COMES UP SHORT IN BUFFALO 2/6/16
By Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Blackwolves
Buffalo is always a tough place to play, with one of the best home crowds in the NLL. New England knows that and proved they would not be shaken when Sheldon Burns (1G) scored the first goal unassisted, shorthanded 2:05 into the game after a too many men bench minor.
It set the tone for an interesting first half of the quarter, as the next two goals would also be shorthanded. Both would be scored by Buffalo: David Brock (1G); and Alexander Kedoh-Hill (2G, 1A). Both teams picked up exactly where they left off from the previous week’s game and things were exceptionally chippy. A total of 16 minutes of penalty time was handed out in the first quarter (10 minutes for New England; six minutes for Buffalo). The Bandits would take the advantage 5-2 going into the second quarter, two of which were power play goals.
The second quarter was all Buffalo. Evan Kirk (13 saves, 20 SOG) and the Black Wolves defense gave up a goal to Mitch Wilde (1G) just 51 seconds in; followed by a goal from Mark Steenhuis (1G) just 1:30 later. Then 3:04 into the period with the Bandits leading 7-2, Kirk was replaced between the pipes by Tye Belanger. Still, Buffalo would score its fifth unanswered goal when Tyler Ferreira (1G, 2A) blasted one in. Kyle Buchanan (3G, 1A) would finally get New England back on the board with 20 seconds left in the half. Halftime score saw the Black Wolves down 8-3.
The third quarter was evenly played by both teams each scoring three goals. Dhane Smith (3G, 3A) seemed unstoppable on the power play with two consecutive man-up goals. Kevin Crowley (2G, 3A) closed the period with his first of the game to bring the Back Wolves within five. Score at the end of the third Buffalo 11—New England 8.
Heading into the fourth it looked like a long shot for New England but the Black Wolves didn’t want to give the game away and fought until the final whistle. Pat Saunders (2G, 1A) put one past Davide DiRuscio (43 saves, 53 SOG) to start the scoring 5:47 into the period. Kyle Buchanan then scored two; with Kevin Crowley putting his second in with the extra attacker and 1:30 left in the game.
The Black Wolves defense held strong and Belanger (34 saves, 38 SOG) was turning everything away. With only 1:30 left on the clock the Black Wolves had fought back to within one goal. Their luck ran out and with 2 seconds left Kevin Brownell (1G, 1A) put the icing on the cake as he scored an empty netter. Although they came up short, the Black Wolves proved they will be resilient and not give up. Final score: Buffalo 12—New England 10.
NOTES:
Kevin Buchanan’s first quarter goal was his 100th NLL goal.
NEXT UP:
New England hosts Toronto on Sunday, February 14th at 3:00 PM EST and
Buffalo travels to Georgia for Sunday, February 14th at 2:05 PM EST.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome