Rochester’s Austin Shanks Dominates the Bandits 1/26/19

Christopher Crane, Correspondent Rochester Knighthawks
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Featured Image Photo Credit: Rochester Knighthawks

This week in NLL action and it surely wouldn’t disappoint those who were in attendance for the Rochester Knighthawks (2-3) as they played host to their I-90 rivals the Buffalo Bandits (4-2) on Military Appreciation night at the Blue Cross Arena. This heated rivalry would certain warm up the City of Rochester as both teams would grind it out with each other but the Rochester Knighthawks would prove to be too much this time around for the Bandits, as Buffalo took the first meeting 12-4 but Rochester would take this one 18-13 to tie the season series between the two teams at one game apiece.

The Rochester Knighthawks would get things rolling in the first period as Rochester’s Austin Shanks (7G, 1A) would find holes early in Buffalo’s net minder ex-Knighthawks Matt Vinc to put the Knighthawks up 2-0. Buffalo would then get one back as Thomas Hoggarth (3G) found the back of the net at 5:53 to make it a 2-1 game. Rochester would go back up by two as Knighthawks Kyle Jackson (1G, 4A) netting his only score of the night at 6:16; and teammate Joe Resetarits (3G, 4A) netting the other Rochester goal in the first period. The Bandits would only add one more coming from Corey Small (2G, 3A). It would be Rochester 4-2 at the end of the first.

Action in the second period would have both teams going back and forth with offensive opportunities but Rochester would still win this battle 5-4 over the Bandits. Netting scores for the Bandits would come at the hands of Chase Fraser (1G); Hoggarth; Dhane Smith (1G, 2A); and Mitch de Snoo (2G). Rochester would get two from Shanks giving him a hat trick which was followed up by scores from teammates Scott Campbell (2G, 1A); Graeme Hossack (1G, 2A); and Cody Jamieson (1G, 5A) to give the Knighthawks a 9-6 lead heading into the half.

Third period action would see the Knighthawks keep the pressure on the Bandits with Rochester’s defense and goal minder Angus Goodleaf only giving up two scoring opportunities to the Bandits with the Knighthawks outscoring Buffalo 4-2. Getting things going for Rochester would be none other than Shanks who would net two of the four scores for the Knighthawks giving him a sock trick on the night with teammates Corey Vitarelli (1G, 2) and Resetarits netting the other two. Buffalo’s two scores would come from Hoggarth and Small, but it would still be Rochester holding the lead 13-8 at the end of the third.

Heading into the fourth, action would return to a back and forth contest for both offenses once again as Buffalo and Rochester would split the scoring 5-5. Rochester would get things rolling once again from the likes of Shanks grabbing his seventh of the night which was closely followed by teammates Campbell and Pat Saunders (1G, 2A) to put Rochester up 16-8. Buffalo would get one back from Shawn Evans to make it a 16-9 game. Rochester’s Resetarits would net his third of the night at 4:20 to give him a hat trick and bringing the score to 17-9 with teammate Cam Milligan netting the last score for Rochester. Buffalo’s other scores would come from de Snoo; Ian MacKay; Nick Weiss; and Justin Martin but it wouldn’t be enough as Rochester took this win decisively 18-13 over the Buffalo Bandits.

UP NEXT:

Rochester (2-3) will be back in action next weekend as they play host to the Georgia Swarm (5-2) February 2nd at 7:30pm; with the Buffalo Bandits (5-2) playing back to back games as they are right back on the floor and will play host to the New England Black Wolves (2-2) at 6pm.