Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
Lacrosse is Awesome
The Rochester Rattler’s (6-4) were back in action this past weekend as they took on the Charlotte Hounds (6-4) in front of a home crowd of 1,433 at the Aquinas Institute. This would be the second meeting between the two teams this season. The Hounds would take the win in the first match up; however this time around Rochester had different plans. With Rochester getting off to a slow start they would finish strong as they would defeat the Hounds 18-14.
The first period of play would get started with the Charlotte Hounds going on a three goal run striking first at the 1:45 mark from Mike Chanenchuk unassisted. Ryan Brown would follow up at 7:53; and Kevin Cunningham at 9:21 giving Charlotte an early 3-0 lead. Rochester’s Jeremy Boltus would finally get the Rattler’s on the scoreboard at 12:10 making it 3-1. The Hounds made it a 4-1 game at 13:05 as John Haus would find the back of the net with the assist coming from Joey Sankey, his second of the night. The Rattler’s would get the final score of the period as Jordan Wolf would make it a 4-2 game at 13:50 to end the period.
The start of the second period would start just like the first as the Hounds would go on yet another three goal run. It would get started by Brown scoring the first two goals of the run giving him the hat trick on the night and putting the Hounds up 6-2; and another from Chanenchuk for his second of the night at 4:21 making it a 7-2 game. Rochester would finally get one back as Kip Orban would make it 7-3 at 4:54. Charlotte’s Sankey would put it back to a five goal game as he would find the back of the net at 6:56. Although it looked as though the Hounds were beginning to walk away with the game the Rattler’s had other plans as they would go on a five goal run. Getting the run started for Rochester would be John Ranagan at 8:13; followed up by Ned Crotty at 9:15 making it an 8-5 game. The next three Rattler’s to score would be Orban; Ranagan; and Crotty all netting their second of the night to end the run and the second period heading into halftime all tied up at 8-8.
Rochester would continue the pressure at the start of the third as it would be all Boltus for the Rattler’s as he would net the only three goals for Rochester giving him the hat trick and four on the night. Charlotte would answer back with two of their own coming from Brown for his fourth of the night; and Sankey netting his second. Rochester would finally take their first lead of the night at the end of the third period. Score at the end of three: Rattlers 11—Hounds 10.
The fourth period of play would go back and forth, but Rochester would once again get the scoring started as Jesse King would net his first of the night at the 1:24 mark making it 12-10 Rattler’s. Charlotte’s Pat Young would net one at 3:23 bringing them back to within one. Rochester answered right back as King would net his second of the night making it 13-11. Charlotte wasn’t giving up and saw John Haus; and Brown net one apiece giving them a total of six on the night. The Rattler’s would be the only ones to hit net for the remainder of the game with goals from Kyle Denhoff; Crotty who would end up with a hat trick on the night; Donny Moss; Mike Manley; and Jordan Wolf who would have two goals on the night as Rochester would down the Charlotte Hounds 18-14.
The overall play from the Rattler’s was nothing but superb, and although it was a slow start they accomplished what they wanted; they had only one penalty on the night; and also controlled it at X as they won 24-36. With Rochester taking the win last night and with some help from around the MLL, Rochester now sits in the number two spot in the standings behind the Chesapeake Bayhawks. Rochester will be back in action July 23rd as they take on the New York Lizards.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Rattlers
Lacrosse is Awesome