Photo credit: Rochester Knighthawks
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
In last week’s NLL action the Rochester Knighthawks (5-8) saw their second meeting against rivals the Buffalo Bandits (5-7) at the Blue Cross Arena on Military Appreciation Night and 8,765 fans. Like any matchup between these two, it wouldn’t disappoint and would come down to the wire with a strong defensive stand still and Rochester getting the 11-10 win.
The Knighthawks would get the scoring started rather quickly as Jackson would hook up with Resetarits who would find the back of the net just 48 seconds into the first quarter. Then the stand off began and would be still for both sides, but Rochester’s Dan Dawson would break the silence and net the Knighthawks second goal at 6:41 making it 2-0. The tide would unfortunately turn in Buffalo’s favor as they would rattle off the next three scores of the first quarter; the first from Dhane Smith at 8:57; followed up with scores from Steenhuis and Benesch putting the Bandits up 3-2 at the end of the first.
Bandits Benesch would net his second of the night on a power-play goal at 1:23 putting Buffalo up 4-2. Yet another stand still would occur until the 9:01 mark when Rochester’s D. Dawson would net his second of the night making it a 4-3 game. Buffalo followed up with two as Saunders would net the Bandits second power-play goal at 12:10 making it 5-3; followed up by Steenhuis for his second of the night giving the Bandits a 6-3 lead heading into halftime.
The third quarter ended up as a tennis match with back and forth play, but it would be Rochester’s Resetarits finding the back of the net again 56 seconds into the quarter bringing them to within two. Benesch struck back and would get his hat-trick at 6:15 putting the Bandits back up by three 7-4. The Knighthawks on a power play opportunity with rookie sensation Kyle Jackson would beat the Bandits goalie Anthony Cosmo making it 7-5. Buffalo would again strike back at 13:51 putting it 8-5 at the end of the third.
The fourth quarter would be all Rochester as they would explode for six goals, while the Knighthawks defense held Buffalo to only two. Rochester’s first three scores would come from Lomas; Vitarelli; and Resetarits who would net the hat-trick at 4:53 tying the game at 8 apiece. The Bandits broke the tie with a goal from Smith at 7:39 making it 9-8. Rochester turned the tide and took back the lead from the Bandits as Jackson would net the Knighthawks next two making it 10-9 in favor of Rochester. Buffalo’s Mitch Jones would tie it up once again at 11:28. However, Rochester wasn’t going to let this one get away from them and it would be Brad Gillies netting the game winner at 12:55 with the Knighthawks defense holding strong until the final buzzer for 11-10 win.
The Knighthawks (5-8) will be back in action April 1st as they host the Calgary Roughnecks (5-9).
Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome