Photo Credit: NLL
Chris Vale, Beat Writer Buffalo Bandits
Lacrosse is Awesome
Coming off the bye week the Buffalo Bandits (1-5) were ready to regroup and get the win on their home floor Friday night at the Key Bank Center against the New England Black Wolves (3-4). Buffalo has not won a contest since January 21, when they defeated the Vancouver Stealth at home 21-15. New England just came off a tough loss to the Swarm on Saturday February 11, (15-17). During the week, the Bandits released Darryl Veltman from their roster and put rookie Bryce Brochu in their lineup. With Mitch Wilde on the PUP list, American Tim Edwards who’s in his second year with the team saw his first game action taking all the draws for Buffalo who faced their former draw man current Black Wolves transition player Jay Thorimbert. Final Score: New England 14—Buffalo 10.
Another roster move for Buffalo was a change in net. Dave DiRuscio would set up between the pipes over long time net-minder Anthony Cosmo. Even with the moves things did not go as planned with New England scoring the first four goals of the game and six of the first seven goals of the contest.
New England would start off the scoring with Sheldon Burns netting the first goal of the game and two during the stretch; also hitting twine twice was Zac Reid for New England.
Dhane Smith was the first Bandit to score while off season pick up Brad Self also got his team on the board. DiRuscio was quickly pulled after letting in the first four goals and Cosmo came in saving 44 shots while giving up ten goals to the Black Wolves.
Tim Edwards did not fare well against his former teammate Thorimbert who was 19-30 on face offs with a goal and assist. Thorimbert got the Black Wolves offense the ball throughout the night while forwards Kyle Buchanan had (4G, 3A); Kevin Crowley chipped in with three and one assist; Shawn Evans had four assists and kept the ball moving.
Goalie Evan Kirk made thirty-eight saves in his team’s 14-11 victory. For Buffalo Dhane Smith showed why he was the MVP last year scoring three goals with four assist and grabbing six loose balls. Dhane looked healthy coming off his injury from a few weeks back. Ryan Benesch had six points and Mark Steenhuis had five.
The Bandits will be on the road Sunday February 19, 2017 when they head to New England to face the Black Wolves for the second time in three days and are looking to even up the weekend series between the teams.
Here’s your game stats:
Buffalo: 49 SOG; 65 saves; .785SV%; 77 LB; 11-30 on face-offs; .366 FOW%; 1-3 PP
New England: 65 SOG; 38 saves; .775SV%; 75 LB; 19-30 on face-offs; .633 FOW%; 3-4 PP
Some are saying that maybe the Bandits are going to throw the season and go for the draft picks. But we say that’s nonsense. These guys are athletes; they love the game of lacrosse; and they want to redeem themselves, which if they can pull it together could end the season close to 500.
Chris Vale, Beat Writer Buffalo Bandits
Lacrosse is Awesome