Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday, February 17, the Rochester Knighthawks (4-6) played host to the Saskatchewan Rush (8-2) at the Blue Cross Arena on Native American Heritage night. The Knighthawks were looking to build on last week’s win over the Swarm but faced a tall task against the team with the best record in the NLL. In the end, they proved they had what it took and beat the Rush in front of the 6,188 fans. Final Score: Saskatchewan-11, Rochester-16.
Saskatchewan would get things rolling rather quickly in the first quarter of play with a three-goal run. Robert Church (1G, 2A) started it with a goal just 44 seconds into the game. Mark Matthews (3G, 1A) scored just over a minute later with an unassisted goal, and Mike Messenger (1G) scored the third 5:15 in also unassisted. Things looked great early for the Rush, but Rochester answered back in the second half of the quarter with their own three-goal run. Kyle Jackson (2G, 1A) scored the first goal with 6:08 remaining, followed by a goal from Josh Currier (2G, 1A) with 4:21 left. Scott Campbell (1G, 1A) scored the equalizer unassisted with just 1:14 left in the quarter. With that little time though, Saskatchewan was able to find a good look. Ryan Dilks (1G) scored with only 41 seconds left to give the Rush the lead at the end of the quarter. After one quarter of play, Saskatchewan led Rochester 4-3.
Matthews extended the Rush lead to two just 38 seconds into the quarter and it looked like they would be able to take hold. Rochester had other ideas and wound up going on a five-goal run, holding Saskatchewan scoreless for 11:15. Joe Resetarits (1G, 2A) scored 1:27 into the quarter, followed by a power play goal from Cody Jamieson (3G, 4A). Quinn Powless (1G, 1A) scored the fifth unassisted goal of the game with 9:06 remaining, and Jamieson made it two in a quarter just over three minutes later. With 4:11 remaining Brad Gillies (1G) scored the final goal of the run, and cause Saskatchewan to make a change in net. Evan Kirk, who allowed eight goals on 27 shots was replaced by Tyler Carson. The switch worked momentarily, as Jeremy Thompson (1G, 1A) scored unassisted in transition just a minute after the change. Rochester rookie Austin Shanks (2G, 2A) got the Rochester lead back to three goals, scoring with 2:03 remaining. Again though, Saskatchewan was able to score a late quarter goal to get back on track. Matthews scored on the power play giving him a hat trick in the first half. At the half, Rochester led Saskatchewan 9-7.
The third quarter was much more of a defensive game than the first two. Both teams would only find the net four times total, and it took 7:40 for the first strike. Shanks extended the Rochester lead to three with an unassisted tally. Ben McIntosh (3G) scored the next two goals in succession getting Saskatchewan within one of Rochester. The first came with 6:30 remaining, and the second was scored on the power play with 2:16 left. Like Saskatchewan did at the end of the first and second quarters, Rochester was able to score a late goal to swing momentum. Jamieson buried his hat trick goal on the power play with only 22 seconds left on the clock. At the end of the third quarter, Rochester led Saskatchewan 11-9.
The Rush cut the Knighthawks’ lead to one on the power play just 40 seconds into the fourth quarter on a goal from Ryan Keenan (1G, 1A). Currier quickly got the lead back to two just 33 seconds later. Saskatchewan kept fighting and again got within one as McIntosh completed his hat trick on another power play goal. That unfortunately is where their luck ended. Rochester finished the game on a four-goal run, playing stout defense on the dangerous Rush offense. Eric Fannel (4A) assisted on the next two goals. The first was scored by Cory Vitarelli (1G, 1A), and the second by Jackson with under five minutes to play. Feeling the pressure, the Rush pulled the goalie in favor of the extra attacker, and Rochester scored twice on the empty net. Paul Dawson (1G) scored with 1:37 left, and Graeme Hossack (1G) just 23 seconds later, putting the game to rest. Final Score: Saskatchewan-11, Rochester-16.
Up Next:
The Saskatchewan Rush (8-2) host the Calgary Roughnecks (4-5) on Saturday, February 24 at 8:30 PM EST.
The Rochester Knighthawks (4-6) travel to play the Buffalo Bandits (6-3) on Saturday, February 24 at 7:30 PM EST.