Calgary Loses a Tough One to Rochester in OT
By: Marcelo A. Sagüez
On Saturday March 6, the Knighthawks (3-4) came to Calgary (3-6) for their first and only meeting this 2016 NLL season. The Roughnecks came into this game hungry to get that monkey off their backs as they have dropped the last three games and sit at the bottom of the Western Division. Despite a well laid out game plan the Roughnecks drop a tough one losing in OT 9-8.
The Roughnecks game plan was solid with the defense not allowing the visiting Knighthawks’ too many shooting chances. The offense had their chances but could not find the back of the net. Opening the scoring Roughnecks Jeff Shattler (#77) gets one by Rochester Keeper Matt Vinc (#48) to take 1-0 lead. A quick pair scored by Rochester’s Cody Jamieson (#88) put them into the lead 2-1. With a few slick moves Curtis Dickson (#17) evens the score at two. Less than two minutes later he got one by Vinc to advance on the scoreboard 3-2 moving into the second quarter. (Shots on net 15-11 Roughnecks)
Tying the game 90 seconds into the second quarter from Stephen Keogh (#28), it was a low scoring quarter, but full of chances on both sides. Joe Resetariits (#15) scoring on Roughnecks starting keeper Mike Poulin (#30) with five minutes remaining in the first half. With the score favouring the Knighthawks 4-3 using the bench Poulin sends a long pass to Shattler for the breakaway only to have it ring off the post. (Shots on net 28-26 roughnecks)
Keogh (#28) scores his second of the game with only a couple of minutes into the third quarter, increasing Rochester’s lead 5-3. Tyler Burton (#7) cuts the lead to one and then another by Reilly O’Connor (#19) to even the score at five a side. Standing 6’5” Knighthawks Dan Dawson (#6) Scoring his first goal of the night to regain the lead 6-5. Top scorer Jamieson (#88) of the Knighthawks scores his hat-trick placing them up 7-5. Maintaining the game plan, Karsen Leung (#21) scores on Vinc followed by Dickson’s hat-trick goal making the score even at seven to end the third quarter. (Shots on net 40-35 roughnecks)
The back and forth momentum made it an exciting game for the just over 9,000 fans on hand. The Roughnecks challenge a no-goal call half way through the quarter; fans erupted with joy as they saw the instant replay on the Teletron above center floor. However, the no-goal stood. Shortly thereafter Jamieson (#88) scores his fourth of the night making the score 8-7 Rochester with just over six minutes to play in regulation.
Scoring his fourth of the night Dickson ties the score 8-8. With 1:40 to go in the game it looked as if the Knighthawks would take this game in regulation time, however, with Resetarits foot in the crease the goal did not count leaving the game tied. As time ran out in the fourth quarter and the score tied 8-8, OT was needed to settle this matchup. (Shots on net 53-45 roughnecks)
Overtime was intense with the fans on their feet cheering the hometown team to victory. A minute into this extra time Rochester’s 6’5” Dawson at the edge of the crease puts it in over Poulin shoulder to end the game giving the Knighthawks the win over Calgary. Final in OT: Knighthawks 9—Calgary 8.
Lacrosse trivia; Roughnecks coach Curt Malawsky began his NLL playing career in Rochester in 1998. He spent six of his 12 playing seasons with the Knighthawks before joining Calgary’s coaching staff in the summer of 2009.
Marcelo A. Sagüez, Beat Writer Calgary Roughnecks
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