Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
Sundays East Division matchup between the second-place Toronto Rock (8-7) and third-place New England Black Wolves (7-7) was a battle. In the second half of the season, these division games are very important for seeding. In the first matchup between these two teams, New England beat Toronto in Toronto in a one goal, low scoring game. This tilt would not be much different. Runs from both teams and fluid offense would keep the score close. In the end, New England would hold on for the one goal win again. Final Score: New England 15—Toronto 14.
Toronto would open the scoring in the first quarter. Stephan Leblanc (3G, 3A) beat goalie Evan Kirk in transition with a laser to the glove side corner just 1:32 into the game. Shawn Evans (3G, 1A) would answer to tie the game just over a minute later, twisting and winding his way to free his hands. The tie would only last 13 seconds. Leblanc would find the net again on a similar shot as his first. Evans would answer the call again to tie the game with a power-play goal just over a minute and a half later. “Leblanc-Evans-Leblanc-Evans”, those would be the only four goals in the first quarter, and all were scored in the first four and a half minutes. The Black Wolves defense looked impeccable for the remaining time, and Nick Rose made stop after stop for Toronto. The score at the end of one quarter would be tied, New England 2—Toronto 2.
New England would start the scoring this time. Just 18 seconds in, Kyle Buchanan (2G, 3A) would give the Black Wolves their first lead of the game. Joel Coyle (1A) would get called for an illegal cross check, and unsportsmanlike conduct and head to the box for four minutes at 3:33 into the quarter. The first goal on the extended power-play would not be one for Toronto. Instead, Evans would put in a shorthanded goal and extend the lead to two. 30 seconds later the Black Wolves bench would be called for too many men. With the extended time and two extra men, Toronto would get one. Again, it would be Leblanc with just eight seconds left in the first penalty. Almost nine minutes in, New England would get another penalty, and again they would oddly take advantage. This time, face-off wizard Jay Thorimbert (2G, 2A) would beat Rose in transition and New England would get back to a two-goal lead. Toronto would get theirs as Tom Schreiber (4G, 3A) would get it and cut the lead back to one. With under a minute to go in the half, Thorimbert again would run out in transition and beat Nick Rose. Going into the half, New England would lead Toronto 6-4.
To start the third quarter, New England would find the net. Kevin Crowley (2G, 3A) would stretch the lead to three 1:49 in. In the next five minutes of lacrosse, Toronto would tie the game up with a three-goal run. The first two would be from Schreiber to complete his hat-trick; and the third would come from Kieran McArdle (3G, 1A) 5:36 in and unassisted. Toronto seemed to be shooting exclusively off high center screens and it was paying off. But, New England would answer the run with two goals of their own. The first was Crowley on the power-play; and the second from Daryl Veltman (2G). McArdle would temporarily halt the run with his second of the quarter, but Sheldon Burns (2G) would answer just eight seconds later in transition. With under a minute to go in the quarter, Evan Kirk would pass forward to Reilly O’Connor (1G, 2A) who rather than wait for the line change, would just fire on net and score past Rose. Toronto had seen enough and Rose would leave the game after allowing 11 goals on 35 shots, and was replaced by Brandon Miller. At the end of three the score would be New England 11—Toronto 8.
The run would continue for New England in the fourth. Kevin Buchanan (1G, 4A) would score 59 seconds in; and Kyle Buchanan would get his second of the game 3:27 in to extend the lead to 13-8. Everything seemed well for the home crowd, but Toronto would not give in. Brett Hickey (1G, 2A) scored on the power play, and then Schreiber and McArdle would make the run three goals. With 5:57 left in the game, the deficit was now only two goals. Veltman would get the next one and give the Black Wolves a bit of a cushion back with the score now 14-11 and only 2:51 left. Toronto didn’t panic and pulled Miller for the extra attacker. Reid Reinholdt (3G) would take advantage and score. On the next try it would backfire as Burns would get an empty netter with just 1:43 on the clock. Miller would stay on the bench as Toronto would try to fight back with the extra man. Reinholdt again would find the net, now with just 1:15 left. 37 seconds later – you guessed it – Reinholdt. Three goals (a true hat-trick) in 1:32 of game time to bring the score to 15-14. Toronto won the ensuing faceoff and called timeout with 34 seconds on the clock. They could not beat Kirk again and the game would end as the home crowd let out a sigh of relief. Final Score: New England 15—Toronto 14.
UP NEXT:
New England hosts the Georgia Swarm on Friday, April 7 at 7:30 PM.
Toronto hosts Buffalo on Friday, April 14 at 7:30 PM.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome