Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
The New England Black Wolves (6-6) hosted the Rochester Knighthawks (4-8) for a St. Patrick’s Day showdown at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. With the playoffs still wide open in the East Division, both teams needed a win. A .500 record has eluded New England all season after a 0-3 start and this would be their third chance at reaching even. Rochester came in as the last place team in the East, but only a game behind Buffalo for fourth. The game would be close throughout as both teams knew what was at stake. The final would fall in New England’s favor. Final Score: New England 12—Rochester 11.
Rochester would take control of the game early as the Black Wolves looked flat on this Friday night game. The home crowd was into it, screaming, yelling and decked in green, but Scott Campbell (1G) would quiet them with a transition goal stick side low on goalie Evan Kirk. Kyle Jackson (5G, 2A) would start off his spectacular night two and a half minutes later with his first goal scoring in the same location. Five minutes into the game and New England had dug themselves into a two-goal deficit. The game would be scoreless for the next seven minutes as both teams stretched their defenses causing turnovers and unhealthy shots. Shawn Evans (3G, 5A) would finally get New England on the board with just three minutes left in the first. He was left with a bit too much space, ran towards the net and picked his corner. With just ten seconds left in the quarter, Evans would score again, in the same corner past Matt Vinc to tie the game at two apiece. Off the ensuing faceoff, Rochester would score on the quick breakaway, but the goal would be called back after a coach’s challenge. The first quarter would end with both teams tied at two goals.
The Black Wolves would score first in the second quarter with Kevin Buchanan (4G, 2A) finding the net just 58 seconds in, giving them their first lead of the game. Again, there would be a long scoring drought. This one would last six minutes until Cory Vitarelli (1G, 2A) would tie the game up at three with 7:52 remaining. Rochester would get called for a penalty, and last it out. As it released they would be assessed another penalty. On the man down, Kyle Jackson would score just trying to get the ball to the net with an expiring shot clock. Rochester would take the lead 4-3 with 3:48 remaining in the half. New England would strike next. Reilly O’Connor (2G, 4A) would tie the game up with 1:52 left. Kevin Crowley (2G, 1A) would give New England the lead back with the quick stick from a beautiful pass from Evans behind the net. The second quarter wouldn’t see any more action, until the horn blew. Then both teams lost their cool on the Black Wolves defensive zone. Bill O’Brien, fresh off his two-game suspension would catch an elbow on the crease as both teams huddled around. Dan Dawson would drag him out by his helmet and instigate a minute-long fight. As that fight ended, Andrew Suitor would grab Derek Searle near the Rochester bench and start another brawl. Both teams had players yelling back and forth as they had to be separated and sent to the locker rooms. All four players would not return to the game receiving a mix of game misconducts and match penalties. The first half would end with the Black Wolves leading the Knighthawks, 5-4.
The bad blood did not pick up in the third quarter. Evans would extend the lead for New England with his hat trick goal 2:07 in. Kyle Jackson struck next for Rochester with his second man down goal of the game. The one handed underhand shot had power and bounced past goalie Kirk. New England had an answer as Kevin Buchanan got his second of the game to put the lead back to two. Rochester would score two goals in a span of a minute and a half to tie the game up with 3:04 remaining in the quarter. The first would be scored off a juicy rebound surrendered by Kirk. He did everything he could to stop it, but the flailing was to no avail. In the last three minutes of action both teams would score once more, Kevin Buchanan for New England and Kyle Jackson for Rochester. At the end of three, the score would be tied at eight.
Kyle Buchanan (1G, 2A) would score first in the fourth quarter, giving the lead back to New England. Again, both teams would be unable to score for an extended period. Five minutes later Josh Currier (2G, 1A) would tie the game at nine. The shot was confusing. With no angle, immediately to Kirk’s left side, Currier twisted a shot that the replay showed just squeezed between the leg and pipe. Disbelief filled the air. New England would rattle off two in a row next. 
The first was O’Connor picking up his own rebound and catching Vinc off guard. The second was Evans to Crowley again as he swept in front of the crease. With 3:57 left in the game, New England held a two-goal lead. Rochester was not going to give up. Joe Resetarits (1G, 2A) would cut the deficit back to one just under a minute later. They almost tied the game on the next possession, but the ball was released after a shot clock expiration and waved off. Kevin Buchanan would come through again to put the lead back at two with 1:10 left. Rochester again answered. With 33.1 left on the clock, Currier would score with an extra attacker on the turf. They would win the ensuing faceoff and call an immediate timeout. Two shots in the last seconds of the game would be reviewed by the officials and neither would count. The Black Wolves pulled through for the nail biting finish and extend their win streak to three games. All three have been against East Division teams, and they finally reached the elusive .500 mark. Rochester would drop to 4-8 and stay in last place in the East. Final Score: New England 12—Rochester 11.
UP NEXT:
New England travels to Calgary (4-8) on Saturday, March 25 at 9:00 PM. Rochester hosts Buffalo (5-6) on Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 PM.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome