By: Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday April 23, the Rochester Knighthawks (6-10) took on division rivals the Buffalo Bandits (12-5) at the Blue Cross Arena in front of a crowd of 10,716 hopeful fans. This was a must win for the Knighthawks to keep any playoff hopes alive, unfortunately luck wasn’t on their side as the Bandits edged Rochester 15-13.
The first period would be even for both sides as neither team would give an inch to the other. It would be just over four minutes of play before either team would get on the scoreboard, with Rochester striking first at the 4:16 mark from Dan Dawson with the unassisted goal. Buffalo would strike next coming from Dhane Smith at 6:58 (Steenhuis, Benesch) making it even at one goal apiece. Rochester would score twice; the first would come at 8:17 from Cory Vitarelli (Jamieson, Keogh); followed up 20 seconds later from Dawson grabbing his second of the night at 8:37 putting Rochester up 3-1. The Bandits would answer back with two goals of their own the first coming at 9:05 from Dan Culp; followed up by Anthony Malcom at 13:40 to end the scoring in the first period, and the game tied 3-3.
Scoring in the second period would be much of the same as it was in the first. It was a little over four minutes of play before Keogh would put the Knighthawks up 4-3 at the 4:32 mark. The Bandits Steenhuis would then make it 4-4 on a power play goal at 7:38. The Knighthawks took back the lead at 11:36 on their own power play goal from Joe Resetarits (D. Dawson, Jamieson) going ahead 5-4. Brad Gillies would put the Knighthawks up 6-4 at 12:57. Buffalo’s Benesch would get his second goal of the night in the closing seconds of the first half at 14:15 making it 6-5 heading into halftime.
Rochester would start the third period as they did the previous two of play by striking first, but this time only 25 seconds in coming on a power play goal from Vitarelli, his second of the night making it 7-5. Buffalo would strike back on a short-handed goal at 3:32 from Steve Priolo, score 7-6 still in favor of the Hawks. Vitarelli would put the Knighthawks up 8-6 at 7:03 giving him a hat trick on the night. Benesch would then get his second of the night for the Bandits at 8:28. That would be the end of the scoring for either team heading into the fourth period with Rochester up 8-7.
The beginning of the fourth period would have the Bandits striking first at 1:45 from Culp with his second of the night tying the game 8-8. Dawson would then get the hat trick at 2:16 putting the Knighthawks back up 9-8. The fourth period would quickly become the Bandits show as they would go on a six goal run. Buffalo’s Steenhuis would get three goals on the run giving him a hat trick and a total of four on the night. Dhane Smith would also grab two on the Bandits run; and Priolo with his second during the run putting Buffalo up 14-9. The Knighthawks would then start a run of their own with Resetarits netting the first three goals of the run giving him a back-to-back-to-back hat trick as well as four goals on the night; and Rochester’s home grown product Joe Walters would get the fourth on the come-back run making it a one goal game 14-13. Rochester would pull Matt Vinc for the extra attacker in hopes of making tying the game, but unfortunately for Rochester they would lose possession of the ball and the Smith would get the empty netter for Buffalo at 14:54 giving him four goals on the night and the Bandits a 15-13 victory over the Knighthawks.
With the loss, Rochester (6-10) now sits in fourth place in the Eastern Division, and a half game out of third place behind the Georgia Swarm (7-10). Rochester still has the possibility of grabbing third place from the Swarm for the final playoff spot but will need help as Georgia would have to lose their remaining games, and Rochester must win their final two. This won’t be easy as the Knighthawks take on the Western Division Champions Saskatchewan Rush (12-5) next Saturday April 30th and end their season May 1st taking on the New England Black Wolves (10-6), both teams who have already clinched a play-off spot.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome