Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday February 3, 2018, the Rochester Knighthawks (2-5) hosted their I-90 rival Buffalo Bandits (4-3) in front of a crowd of 9,425 fans on Military Appreciation Night at the Blue Cross Arena. This rivalry game was certainly high energy for the large crowd. Unfortunately for those fans, the Knighthawks would come up short in the closing minutes, and the Buffalo Bandits would sneak by with a hard-fought win. Final Score: Buffalo-16, Rochester-14.
The first quarter of play started off as a back and forth affair. The Knighthawks Luc Magnan (1G) found the back of the net at 4:19, and 30 seconds later Kyle Jackson (2G) did the same making it a 2-0 game. Buffalo would then answer back with two goals of their own. The first came from Dhane Smith (3G, 8A), and the second from Mitch Jones (2G, 2A) tying the game at two. The Knighthawks came back with two more goals. Jackson scored his second of the quarter, and Cory Vitarelli (4G) scored just 23 seconds later. Rochester now led the Bandits 4-2. However, the Bandits answered with a three-goal run to take the lead 5-4. Jordan Durston (1G, 2A) scored first, followed just seven seconds later by a goal from Kevin Brownell (1G). Josh Byrne (5G, 1A) scored the third goal, giving Buffalo their first lead of the game. But in the closing seconds, and with the extra attacker, Rochester’s Joe Resetarits (2G, 4A) tied the game, and took the momentum away. At the end of the first quarter, Rochester and Buffalo were tied 5-5.
The Knighthawks came out firing in the second quarter. Vitarelli started things off with his second of the night just over three minutes in. Less than a minute later, Brad Gillies (1G, 1A) gave Rochester another two-goal lead. Buffalo came back with their second three-goal run of the half. Two goals from Byrne were sandwiched around Callum Crawford’s (2G, 5A) unassisted beauty. Byrne’s hat trick goal gave Buffalo their second one goal lead. Rochester had an answer late again, as Vitarelli scored his hat trick goal with 3:11 remaining to tie the game back up. Going into halftime, Rochester and Buffalo were tied 8-8.
Keeping in fashion of the previous two quarters, the Knighthawks struck first in the third. Graeme Hossack (2G, 1A) started the scoring 3:13 in. Austin Shanks (1G, 1A) made it a two-goal lead just over a minute and a half later. Again, Buffalo fought back. This time it was a five-goal run as they shut out Rochester for the rest of the quarter. Nick Weiss (1G) started the run with an unassisted goal 6:28 in. Crawford scored next, followed by two consecutive goals from Smith. His two goals came within a minute of each other. Byrne scored the fifth of the run, and his fourth of the night, with just three seconds left to play. The third quarter ended with Buffalo leading Rochester 13-10.
Buffalo extended the run at the start of the fourth quarter. Jones netted a shorthanded goal 2:19 in, and Vaughn Harris (1G, 1A) scored next making it seven unanswered. Rochester, now down five, tried their best to get back on track. Jake Withers (1G) scored unassisted, and just over 30 seconds later, Hossack scored unassisted as well. Byrne broke up the run with his fifth of the game and with 6:29 left, Buffalo still had a four-goal lead. Rochester was determined though. Resetarits scored with 2:33 left, and with the extra attacker on, Vitarelli cut the lead to two with 1:36 on the clock. That is where the comeback fell short though, as Buffalo was able to eat time off the clock and keep Rochester from scoring again. Final Score: Buffalo-16, Rochester-14.
Up Next:
Both the Rochester Knighthawks (2-5) and the Buffalo Bandits (4-3) have double-headers this weekend.
Buffalo travels to play the New England Black Wolves (4-2) on Friday, February 9 at 7:30 PM EST. On Saturday, February 10 they return home to host the Georgia Swarm (3-3) at 7:30 PM EST.
Rochester hosts the Toronto Rock (4-3) on Saturday, February 10 at 8:00 PM EST. On Sunday, February 11 they travel to play the Georgia Swarm (3-3) at 6:05 PM EST.
Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome