Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday, February 10, at the Blue Cross Arena, The Rochester Knighthawks (2-6) played host to the Toronto Rock (5-3) in their first game of a double header weekend. Rochester started the season with two straight wins but haven’t won since. Toronto would not let them have it, as they won a close game on the road. Final Score: Toronto-12, Rochester-9
Rochester’s Joe Resetarits (4G) would find the back of the net only eight seconds into the game, and the Knighthawks quickly found themselves in the lead. A costly penalty on Sid Smith just nine seconds later left the opportunity open for Toronto to tie the game on the power play. Reid Reinholdt (1G, 3A) scored an unassisted goal just over a minute into the man advantage. Rochester rattled off the next two scores. The first was scored by Graeme Hossack (1G, 1A) almost three and a half minutes after Toronto tied the game at one. Resetarits then scored his second of the night with 7:05 remaining to make it 3-1 game. Toronto answered the two-goal run with their own. Just 16 seconds after Resetarits’ goal, Dan Craig (2G, 1A) cut the deficit to one, and just over a minute later Rob Hellyer (2G) tied the game at three. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto and Rochester were tied 3-3.
The second quarter started quickly, much as the first quarter. This time though, Toronto started things off. Just nine seconds in, Latrell Harris (1G) scored a power play goal. Hossack went to the box for holding with just one second left in the first quarter. Ian Llord went to the box for holding 39 seconds later, and Toronto found themselves with another early quarter power play chance. This time, Brett Hickey (1G, 1A) scored, and just 1:08 into the second quarter, Toronto found themselves ahead 5-3. The next almost six and a half minutes were scoreless as both teams made a defensive stand. Resetarits broke the drought with his hat trick goal coming on a power play with 7:19 left on the clock. After that goal, Toronto again had a power play opportunity, but this time could not capitalize. In fact, Dylan Evans (1G) turned the tables and scored a shorthanded goal, tying the game at five with 4:40 remaining in the half. That would be the final score of the half, as both teams again battled hard defensively. At halftime, Toronto and Rochester were tied 5-5.
The third quarter is where the tide turned in favor of Toronto. They outshot the Knighthawks 17-8, and scored four goals to their two. Craig scored 2:39 into the quarter, giving Toronto the lead back at 6-5, but one minute later, Josh Currier (1G, 1A) gave us our fourth tie of the evening. 5:09 into the quarter, Brad Gillies (1G, 1A) scored to give Rochester back the lead. The Toronto defense held tight for the rest of the quarter and the offense went on to answer with a three-goal run. Brodie Merrill (1G) scored with 6:45 remaining and in the final minutes of the third quarter Hellyer rattled in his second of the night and Kieran McCardle (1G) scored his lone goal of the game. At the end of the third quarter, Toronto led Rochester 9-7.
Rochester would put forth a valiant effort to get back into the game in the fourth quarter, but Toronto would not relinquish the lead for the remaining time. Cody Jameison (1G, 2A) made it a 9-8 game, beating Rock goaltender Nick Rose with a spectacular shot 4:44 in, but just over a minute later, Adam Jones (1G, 2A) brought the lead back to two with a power play score. For over six minutes, neither team could break through, but then Resetarits scored his fourth on the power play to again put Rochester within one. With only 2:58 on the clock, there was not enough time for a comeback. Brock Sorensen (1G) and Billy Hostrawser (1G) both scored empty net goals in the final minute and a half to bring us our final. Final Score: Toronto-12, Rochester-9.