Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Feature Image Photo Credit: Christian Bender
The Toronto Rock (3-3) hosted the Rochester Knighthawks (2-4) on Saturday night January 29, 2022 in Hamilton and it was their second home game in a row without fans. Both teams came into the game looking to get back into the win column after both had dropped their last two contests. The game was a back and forth affair until the Rock pulled away in the second half on the strength of Tom Schreiber’s game leading six goals. Mitch de Snoo would hit a milestone in the contest with 10 loose balls, which sent him past the 600 loose ball mark for his career. Final Score: Toronto 12—Rochester 8.
The first quarter started off slow on the scoreboard as neither team could break through until almost five minutes into the game. Then both teams were four on four and Toronto’s Zach Manns (1G, 3A) came from the bottom to the top and fired a laser to the top corner over Rylan Hartley’s (42 saves) shoulder to open the scoring. Three minutes later with the Rock goalie pulled for an extra attacker due to a delayed penalty, Dan Craig (2G, 3A) took a side arm shot that went off the far post and in behind Hartley 2-0 Rock. Toronto continued their scoring ways less than a minute later while on the power play as the Rock passed it around and Dan Dawson (3G, 2A) from the top bounced a shot through Hartley’s legs to increase the Rock lead 3 – 0. Rochester was finally able to light the lamp while on a 4 on 3 power play when Shawn Evans (2G) shot low to the far side and beat Nick Rose (45 saves) cutting the lead to two. The Rock would answered back a couple of minutes later in transition when Tom Schreiber (6G) would grab the rebound and with a twister shot beat Hartley stick side to end the scoring for the quarter. At the end of one the shots were all even at 12. Score at the end of one: Toronto 4—Rochester 8.
Rochester would open the scoring in the second less than two minutes into the quarter as Ryan Smith (2G, 3A) grabbed the loosie from Rose behind the net, dove in front and tucked it into the open side before Rose could get back and the Rock lead was cut 4 – 2. Shawn Evans on the power-play with a low to low shot beat Rose through the legs to get Rochester within one at 4 – 3. But less than 20 seconds later Schreiber would come off of the bench, receive a pass from Rob Hellyer (7A) and his quick shot would beat Hartley off the post and in to increase the Rock lead 5 – 3. Smith would score his second in the frame when he cut under his defender, dove across the crease and beat Rose to the far side over the shoulder to get Rochester back within one 5 – 4. But once again Schreiber answered right back for Toronto when he received a pick in front and took an overhand shot on the run over the shoulder to end the scoring in the first half for his hat trick goal. The shots at the half were Rochester 30 and Toronto 28. Score at the end of two: Toronto 6—Rochester 4.
The Knighthawks started quickly in the third when Curtis Knight (2G, 3A) in the first minute, received a pass from Turner Evans (2G, 3A) at the top and came down the middle of the floor. His overhand shot beat Rose to the short side to get back to within one 6 – 5. Knight scored his second in a row off a pass from Charlie Bertrand (2A) and he would bury the shot to the short side to tie it up at six. That was as close at the ‘Hawks could get as the Rock would take over and continue building their lead one goal at a time. Schreiber, who was loose in front of the net received a pass from Hellyer , faked to the far side and his twister shot beat Hartley to the short side to give the lead back to the Rock at 7 – 6. Eighteen seconds later Schreiber would score his fifth on the night when Manns passed to him as the trailing player and he shot around his defender over the shoulder and into the top corner. This extended the Rock lead to 8 – 6 halfway through the frame. Dawson would end the scoring in the third when he completed a pick and roll and Justin Scott (1A) sent him a pass in front and his quick stick beat Hartley between the legs increasing the lead by three. After three quarters the shots were Toronto 42 and Rochester 38. Score at the end of three: Toronto 9—Rochester 6.
Less than six minutes into the final quarter while on the power play Challen Rogers (3A) with a nice behind the back pass to Dawson who’s sidearm shot beat Hartley for his hat trick goal extending the Rock lead to four at 10 – 6. Craig on a pass from Hellyer unloaded an overhand shot over Hartley’s far shoulder to put the Rock up by five with less than seven minutes to go in the game. T. Evans would answer back with a sidearm shot from the outside that surprised Rose through the legs to make it 11 – 7. T. Evans scored his second in a row on the power-play as his shot hit a defenders stick in front and beat Rose through the legs to make it 11 – 8 for the Rock with just over one minute left in the game. Schreiber ended the scoring when he picked up a loose ball in his zone and from his own restraining line he rolled a shot all of the way down the floor into the empty net for his sock-trick and sixth on the night. The final shots on goal were Toronto 54 and Rochester 53. Final Score: Toronto 12—Rochester 8.
The Three stars of the game were:
Tom Schreiber—Toronto Rock: 6 goals
Rob Hellyer—Toronto Rock: 7 assists
Dan Dawson—Toronto Rock: 3 goals, 2 assists
TEAM STATS:
Toronto Rock—SOG 53; Saves 45; Assists 20; LB 91; PP 2-7; Face-offs 18-24
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 54; Saves 42; Assists 11; LB 59; PP 3-5; Face-offs 6-24
NEXT UP:
The next game for the Toronto Rock (3-3) will be on Saturday February 5th at 8:00 p.m. EST as they visit the Wells Fargo Centre to play the Philadelphia Wings (5-3). Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Rochester Knighthawks (2-4) will travel to the Key Bank Centre also on Saturday February 5th at 7:30 p.m. EST to play the Buffalo Bandits (4-0). Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©