Chris Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
Saturday night’s games in the NLL were must watch TV for the fans, and a must win for the teams. The Rochester Knighthawks (10-8) hosted the Buffalo Bandits (8-10) in a game where the winner would have a chance at the post season, and the loser would have to wait until next year to take the turf again. The rivalry between these two teams certainly wouldn’t disappoint the 19,070 fans in attendance at the Key Bank Center with back and forth action lasting until the final quarter. Those fans were able to leave with smiles on their faces as the Knighthawks beat the Bandits and punched their ticket to the playoffs. Final Score: Buffalo-13, Rochester-15.
The Buffalo Bandits would get things started in the first quarter of play as Shawn Evans (3G, 1A) scored his first goal of the night 1:37 in to give the Bandits the early lead. Teammate Jordan Durston (2G, 3A) scored just over three minutes later to extend that lead to two. Rochester then turned the tide in their favor going on a three-goal run. Cody Jamieson (2G, 2A) started the streak scoring just under six minutes in with an extra attacker on the floor. Paul Dawson (1G, 2A) got the second in transition, and Jake Withers (1G) gave Rochester the lead with 4:08 remaining in the first. Buffalo tied the game on a goal from Mitch Jones (4G, 2A) with only 38 seconds left on the clock, but 17 seconds later, Rochester took the lead again on Jamieson’s second goal of the quarter. At the end of the first quarter, Rochester led Buffalo 4-3.
Rochester was assessed a penalty early in the second quarter, but even with the man down they found an opportunity. Graeme Hossack (1G, 1A) scored shorthanded 1:44 in. With only seven seconds remaining in the power play, Dhane Smith (2G, 3A) scored to get Buffalo back to within one. Rochester then got back to back scores from Corey Vitarelli (1G) and Austin Shanks (2G, 2A) to put Rochester up 7-4 with 6:41 remaining in the half. Buffalo found a spark late in the second quarter and went on their own three-goal run to tie the game with 52 seconds remaining. Durston scored unassisted first, followed by goals from Jones and Evans. With three seconds remaining though, Brad Gillies (1G) gave the lead back to Rochester. At the half, Rochester led Buffalo 8-7.
It took only 29 seconds for Jones to tie the game for Buffalo in the third quarter. Kyle Jackson (4G, 4A) scored 4:45 in to give the lead back to Rochester, but under a minute later Evans tied the game again. Rochester’s defense buttoned down for the rest of the quarter and allowed no goals while the offense led an onslaught. Jackson scored his second of the quarter with 4:04 remaining to break the tie. Shanks scored with 2:47 remaining and 24 seconds later Joe Resetarits (2G, 4A) made the run three. Jackson capped it off completing his hat trick in the quarter with 1:17 left. At the end of the third quarter, Rochester led Buffalo 13-9.
Rochester made it five unanswered goals when Resetarits scored just 52 seconds into the final quarter. The goal was his 100th point of the season, making him the first American NLL player to reach the century mark in a season. Things looked grim for Buffalo, but they did not give up. Thomas Hoggarth (1G) scored 2:14 in, and only 39 seconds later Josh Byrne (1G, 2A) finally found the net. Jones scored his fourth of the night 5:21 in and suddenly the Bandits were only down two goals. Both teams battled hard for the next eight minutes but the defenses won the battles and neither offense would find the net. Buffalo was assessed a late penalty, but Smith still was able to score man down with just 1:06 left on the clock. Jackson got the final goal on the empty Buffalo net with 19 seconds remaining to ice the game and send Rochester to the post season. Final Score: Buffalo-13, Rochester-15