Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
A lot was at stake Friday night at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY. The New England Black Wolves (8-9) could secure their spot in the playoffs with a win. The Rochester Knighthawks (6-10) had their backs against a wall and would be eliminated from the playoffs with a loss. The game stayed close throughout with neither team able to get separation. In the end, Rochester would keep their hopes alive and defeat the Black Wolves. Final Score: Rochester 15—New England 13.
The first important thing to happen in this game was not a goal. Early in the first quarter, Dan Lomas (3G, 4A) laid a massive hit on a transitioning Black Wolves player. It did not even lead to a goal, but the tone was clearly set. The Black Wolves would strike first as Shawn Evans (3G, 3A) found the back of the net 3:17 into the game. Lomas would tie the game just over 30 seconds later bringing the home crowd to their feet. A delay of game penalty on Chad Culp (2A) opened the door for Joe Resetarits (2G, 2A) to score on the power play giving the Knighthawks a one goal lead. In like fashion, Dylan Evans would head to the box for slashing giving Shawn Evans the chance to tie the game with the man advantage. Reilly O’Connor (2G, 4A) would score just under a minute later to give New England back the lead. Rochester then rattled off three unanswered goals to get the lead back. Dan Dawson (4G, 2A) got the first; Ian Llord (2G, 1A) the second unassisted in a foot race; and Resetarits the third. Down two with two minutes left in the quarter, Kevin Crowley (2G) would catch a pass from Evans, dodge his defender and score. This play was important for both payers. 
Shawn Evans became only the eighth player in NLL history to reach 1,000 points with his assist, and Kevin Crowley scored his 200th goal of his career. Less than 30 seconds later miscommunication on defense left Lomas open for his second of the quarter. The first quarter would end with Rochester leading New England 6-4.
New England would start the second quarter with a run of their own. Three unanswered over the first seven minutes would see them ahead 7-6 with eight minutes remaining until half time. Seth Oakes (3G, 1A) scored first; Matt Spanger (1G, 1A) the second unassisted in transition; and O’Connor the last. Chad Culp (2A) assisted on Oakes goal and received the 500th point of his NLL career. Rochester would get back on track and score the next two. Paul Dawson (1G, 1A) scored in transition; and Cory Vitarelli (1G) found the net late in the quarter. The game would go into half time with Rochester leading New England 8-7.
Rochester would continue the run coming out in the third quarter making it three unanswered again. This time it was Jarrett Davis (1G, 2A) beating Kirk. On a delayed penalty, Kirk would retreat to the Black Wolves bench for the extra attacker giving Oakes room to work and score to bring the game back to a one goal lead. Dan Dawson answered with two goals in a row and extending the Rochester lead to 11-8 halfway through the third. New England again would fight and answer. Seth Oakes would complete his hat trick; and Sheldon Burns (1G) would score in transition. They could not get back to tying the game though. 
With 31 seconds left in the quarter Ian Llord again would run down in transition and score the unassisted goal. At the end of three, Rochester led New England 12-10.
Lomas extended the Rochester lead to three with an improbable shorthanded goal 3:29 into the fourth quarter. Every time the Black Wolves got close, Rochester had an answer. Kyle Buchanan (1G, 2A) got the deficit back to two, only to have Dan Dawson score three minutes later extending the lead again. Not giving up, Evans found the net, and then Crowley with the extra attacker scored to bring the score to 14-13 with 1:22 left in the game. With the extra attacker out again after a faceoff win, New England set up the offense looking to tie the game. A quick cross crease pass was picked off by Graeme Hossack (1G, 1A) who chugged to the halfway line and fired a dart directly into the empty net. That would be the final goal of the game and Rochester would keep their playoff hopes alive. Final Score: Rochester 15—New England 13.
UP NEXT:
The Black Wolves play their final game of the season when they host the Vancouver Stealth on Saturday, April 29 at 7:00 PM.
Rochester hosts Georgia on Friday, April 28 at 7:30 PM and then travels to Georgia on Saturday, April 29 at 7:05 PM for their last two games of their season.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome