Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
This week the Rochester Knighthawks (2-2) would travel to their neighbors of the north where they would take on the Toronto Rock (2-1) for round number two at the Air Canada Centre in front of a crowd of 10,817. The first meeting between these two teams the Rock would take the win in demanding style, however this time around it would be a grind out game for the victory as the Rochester Knighthawks would take down the Rock 9-8 for their first loss on the season.
Although it would be a hard fought match up between the teams it would be the Rochester Knighthawks getting things started in the first quarter as they would rattle off the first three scores of the game. It would be rookie Jarrett Davis putting the Knighthawks up early in the quarter finding the back of the net only twenty-seven seconds into the quarter with the assist coming from Jamieson in his first game back of the season as well as Currier helping on the score. Currier would then get the second score for the Knighthawks with Jamieson getting his second assist of the night with some help coming from Resetarits putting Rochester up 2-0. It would be about five minutes of play before Rochester would get their third of the night coming from Brad Gillies unassisted at 6:33 making 3-0 in favor of the Knighthawks. Toronto would finally get on the board from Brett Hickey who would get both scores in the first quarter for the Rock. Hickey would first find the back of the net for the Rock at the 8:46 mark and then again at 14:52 on a power play opportunity making it a 3-2 game at the end of the first quarter.
At the start of the second quarter it would be the Rock striking first after only a minute of play as Schreiber would score on another power play opportunity for the Rock at the 1:01 mark making it 3-3. Rochester would answer back with a four goal run; Llord would get things started for the Knighthawks as he would find the back of the net just fifty-three seconds later unassisted putting Rochester back up 4-3. Rochester’s Resetarits would net two scores during the run for the Knighthawks as well as rookie sensation Jackson would get the other for Rochester’s four goal run putting the Knighthawks up 7-3. Toronto would get one back coming from Hickey who would net the hat trick at 11:07 on yet again another power play opportunity making it a 7-4 game heading into the half.
The third quarter would see a lack of offense as both teams would only score one apiece as both defenses would be stellar as well as goaltenders Rose and Vinc. The first score would come from Rochester’s Resetarits who would finally beat Toronto’s goalie Rose at the 9:53 mark making it 8-4. Toronto would then find an opening on Rochester’s goalie Vinc at the 13:31 mark as Schreiber would find the back of the net for his second goal of the night making 8-5 at the end of the third quarter.
The fourth quarter would then have momentum swing back to Toronto as they would make a late surge. Getting it started for the Rock would be Leblanc scoring at the 3:42 mark making it 8-6. Rochester would then add one in the quarter coming from Jackson for his second of the night putting Rochester back up by three 9-6. Toronto then would rally off two goals to pull within one. Scoring would come from Kasey Beirnes at 8:13 and then Hickey yet again for his fourth of the night at 8:40 making it 9-8. Toronto would have a few more scoring opportunities late in the fourth but Rochester’s defense and goalie Matt Vinc would come up big halting any chance Toronto had and would end up getting the win 9-8 for there second win of the season and handing Toronto their first putting Rochester at 2-2 and Toronto at 2-1.
Rochester will continue to build on this win as they will take on the New England Black Wolves on the road February 3rd for the second meeting between both teams as well with Rochester taking the first match up in decisive fashion.
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome