Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
Week Thirteen’s NLL action got started with the Rochester Knighthawks (3-7) traveling to Gas South Arena to take on the Georgia Swarm (5-6). This was a must win Eastern Conference matchup for both teams as a win for either team would help them climb into a more solid playoff position. It was a great contest throughout the entire game with the lead changing hands multiple times. But in the end once again, Rochester would let the lead slip away in the last two allowing Georgia to tie it up before the final buzzer. The Swarm would notch the final tally in the OT frame for the win and would take the season series in the process. Final Score OT: Swarm 17—Knighthawks 16.
First period action would have Rochester getting on the board first just 15 seconds into the period on a goal from Cory Highfield (2g, 1a) to give the Knighthawks an early 1-0 lead. Rochester would take a 2-0 lead at the 3:00 mark on a tally from Ryan Smith (4g, 3a). The Swarm would answer back with two of their own coming at the hands of Jordan Hall (2g, 1a) and Bryan Cole (1g) to tie it up 2-2 at the 8:44 mark in the frame. Rochester would tally one more score before the end of the period from Holden Cattoni (3g, 2a) at the 10:54 mark putting them up by one. Score at the end of the first: Knighthawks 3—Swarm 2.
The second got started this time just under a minute into play as Rochester’s Charlie Bertrand (1g, 2a) would find the back of the net and make it a 4-2 game in favor of the Knighthawks. Momentum would then shift in favor of the Swarm as they would go on a four goal run to take a 6-4 lead. Netting scores for Georgia would be Shayne Jackson (4g, 3a) who would tally two of his three on the night; along with teammates Ethan Walker (2g, 2a) and Lyle Thompson (4g, 3a) who would each net one apiece. The Knighthawks tallied off two at the 8:25 and 9:11 marks in the frame coming from John Wagner (1g, 1a) and Cattoni to tie it up 6-6. Georgia got a bit of momentum of their own and would go on a three goal run with Thompson netting two scores giving him a hat trick; and Brendan Bomberry (1g, 2a) netting the other to make it a 9-6 game. Rochester cut into Georgia’s lead when Smith notched a power play goal at the 11:03 mark of the period to make it a 9-7 game. They’d add another from Highfield with 1:53 remaining before the buzzer rang. Score at the end of two: Swarm 9—Knighthawks 8.
The third period action would be all Rochester as they would outscore the Swarm 5-1 in the frame. Tallying scores for the Knighthawks would be Cattoni; Smith would record two; and teammates Curtis Knight (1g, 1a) and Shawn Evans (1g, 4a) would score one goal apiece. Netting the lone score for the Swarm would be Hall. Rochester would hold a 13-10 lead at the end of third.
Fourth period action would see a momentum shift in favor of Georgia as they would start the period on a three goal run getting two from Jackson and another from Thompson to tie it at 13-13 at the 3:47 mark. Rochester would answer back tallying the next two coming at the hands of Cattoni and Thomas Hoggarth (1g, 2a) to put them back up 15-13 at 6:55. The Swarm weren’t going to let the Knighthawks get away so easy as they would tie the contest once more at 15-15 with Walker and Comizio tallying off the next two. Rochester took back the lead 16-15 lead on a spectacular shot from Matt Gilray (1g, 1a) at the 12:14 mark. But unfortunately, Georgia would once again tie the game at 16-16 with 1:50 to go Adam Wiedemann (1g, 2a) would find the back of the net. It would be a defensive battle for the rest of the fourth period which would send the teams into overtime. Score at the end of the fourth: Knighthawks 16—Swarm 16.
Overtime action would pick right up where the fourth period ended with both teams putting up defensive stands. Unfortunately, for Rochester they would come up short as Georgia would tally the game winning score from Jackson for his fifth goal of the night. Final Score OT: Swarm 17—Knighthawks 16.
STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks: SOG 47; Saves 40; Assists 24; LB 67; FO 16-36
Georgia Swarm: SOG 57; Saves 31; Assists 23; LB 76; FO 20-36
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (3-7) play host to the New York Riptide (2-8) on Saturday March 12, 2022. Game time 5:00 p.m. EST.
The Georgia Swarm (5-6) will play host to the Halifax Thunderbirds (8-2) at Gas South Arena. The Thunderbirds are coming off a loss against the Albany Firewolves last night so they will be itching for a win. Game time 7:00 p.m. EST.
Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©