Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
This week in NLL action the Rochester Knighthawks (2-5) took on the Toronto Rock (5-2) in their third match up of the season. Both teams would put on show for a crowd of 5,438 at the Blue Cross Arena. Unfortunately the Knighthawks would fall to the Rock 10-6 giving Toronto a 2-1 series lead.
The Rochester Knighthawks would get things started in the first quarter of play off an unbelievable goal from Dan Dawson with a one handed behind the back shot at 2:54 putting the Knighthawks up 1-0. It would be a five minute defensive standstill for both teams before either would be able to notch a score. It would be Toronto finally getting on the board at 8:13 from Phil Caputo notching it up 1-1. Rochester would get a man up opportunity a minute later and made the best of it as they would score only a few seconds into power-play coming from Cory Vitarelli putting Rochester up 2-1 at the end of the first.
Toronto would turn the tides in the second quarter. They would draw first blood as Tom Schreiber would beat Rochester goalie Matt Vinc to tie it up 2-2 at 2:01. Once again it would be all defense on both sides and five and a half minutes of play before Dan Dawson would net his second of the night at 7:36 making it 3-2. Toronto would rally off the next two scores one from Reid Reinholdt on a power play opportunity at 12:38; followed up by Brett Hickey in the closing seconds of the second quarter making it 4-3 in favor of the Rock heading into the half.
Heading into the third quarter, fans would see a marvelous and almost flawless defensive stand for both teams as well as tremendous goalie play from Toronto’s Nick Rose and Rochester’s
Matt Vinc. But both teams would find a way to notch one score a piece. Toronto would get the first score from Reinholdt for his second of the night at 2:18 putting the Rock up 5-3. Rochester was finally able to answer back ten minutes later as Josh Currier would sneak one past Rose at 12:27 making it 5-4 heading into the fourth.
The first half of the fourth quarter of play would have both teams going back and forth on scoring opportunities. Toronto would strike first just only 16 seconds into the quarter as the Rock would get a goal from Kieran McArdle making it 6-4. Rochester answered back with a quick transition goal from Brad Gillies at 1:24 making it 6-5. The Rock would go back up by two off a goal from Hickey for his second of the night at 8:33 making it 7-5. Rochester would find themselves on the power play and Joe Resetarits found the back of the net at 11:14 making it 7-6. Toronto went on a three goal run, with the Rock’s Caputo making it 8-6 at 12:17. Toronto was awarded a penalty shot as Rochester would be called for an illegal substitution. Schreiber beat Vinc one on one at 14:10 making it 9-6. Rochester pulled Vinc in the closing seconds of the fourth which allowed Toronto’s goalie Rose to score an empty netter at 14:48 making the final score 10-6 for a Toronto win.
Rochester is back in action Sunday February 19th as they travel to take on the Georgia Swarm (6-2).
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome