Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jordan Leigh
As the NLL is heading into the home stretch of the regular season with some teams having already clinched a playoff spot, there are still a few fighting for that fourth and final playoff spot so every game counts to make that push to postseason. This would be another contest during Week 18 action where fans would get an Eastern Division versus Western Division match-up as the Albany FireWolves (7-9) would travel to the Rogers Arena to take on the Vancouver Warriors (6-9) in front of a crowd of 5864. Albany sits in the sixth spot of the Eastern Division and Vancouver sits in the fifth spot in the Western Division. Both teams are within one to two games out of that elusive fourth place spot in their respective divisions which sets up a must win scenario for both teams. Albany just came off a tough loss against the Riptide and Vancouver had just lost a heartbreaker in OT in Calgary the night before. So, each was itching for the “W”. But the FireWolves had the better offense and would come out with the victory. Final Score: FireWolves 11—Warriors 7.
First period action would have Albany getting on the board early and taking a 2-0 lead. Tallying the FireWolves first score would be Jacob Ruest (2g, 1a) just 31 seconds into the period, with teammate Andrew Kew (4g) netting his first of four on the night at the 2:55 mark. Both teams would go back and forth before Vancouver would net their first of the night at the 11:53 mark from Reid Bowering (1g) to make it a 2-1 game. Albany’s Ruest would then net his second of the frame at 12:28 making it a 3-1 game. Vancouver would tie it up in the closing minute of the period as Logan Schuss (2g, 2a) would tally his two scores at the 14:01 and 14:33 marks to make it a 3-3 game at the end of the first period. The Warriors would pull Steve Fryer for the extra-attacker (EA) in an attempt to notch another before the buzzer but were unable to capitalize. Score at the end of one: FireWolves 3—Warriors 3.
Although it took a little over four minutes, the second was all Albany as their goaltender Doug Jamieson (48/55, 2a) and its defense shutout Vancouver allowing the Albany offense to take advantage and tally four scores in the period. Netting scores for the FireWolves would come from Kew, Charlie Kitchen (2g, 2a), Adrian Sorichetti (1g) with a nifty hidden ball trick, and Colton Watkinson (1g) at 12:39. For the remaining three and change, neither team was able to score before the half, but Albany would head to the locker room with a four-goal lead. Score at the end of two: FireWolves 7—Warriors 3.
Starting off the third. Albany picking up where they left off in the second as they’d tally the first two scores of the period. Netting the scores for Albany would come from the hands of Kitchen at 2:45 and Kew who completed his hat-trick to make it a 9-3 game at the 6:34 mark of the period. Vancouver would finally get back on the board after not having scored since the first with a goal from Adam Charalambides (2g, 3a) at the 9:44 mark and teammate Derek Lloyd (1g) netting his score 16 seconds later at the 10:00 mark to get them to within four. Once again, the teams would go scoreless for the remainder of the frame. Score at the end of three: FireWolves 9—Warriors 5.
Albany broke their scoring drought as Resetarits secured a rebound just in front of the crease and knocked one home for his first of the contest. With just under four minutes to play, Matthew Dinsdale dove across the crease to net his first goal of the night, bringing the score to 10-7 in Albany’s favor.
The fourth would get off to another slow start and fans would see both teams exchange scores throughout the period with Vancouver striking first with their third in a row on a score from Charalambides for his second of the night at the 5:48 mark to make it a 9-6 game. Albany’s Joe Resetarits (1g, 5a) would break the scoring drought and notch his first of the night for the FireWolves at the 9:10 mark to make it a 10-6 game. With just under four to go, the Warriors second tally of the period would come from Matthew Dinsdale with a crease dive tally at 11:39 to make it a 10-7 game. On a delayed penalty Albany would add one more score which would come from Kew on the short side giving him his fourth score of the night. The FireWolves were able to run out the clock and have now defeated all three of the Western Division teams they have faced. Final Score: FireWolves 11—Warriors 7.
STATS:
Albany FireWolves—SOG 50; Saves 48; Face-offs 11-22; Assists 15; LB 64; PP 0-3
Vancouver Warriors—SOG 55; Saves 39; Face-offs 11-22; Assists 8; LB 56; 0-2
NEXT UP:
The Albany FireWolves (7-9) head into a bye week next week, but will play host to the Philadelphia Wings (7-8) at MVP Arena on Saturday April 16th, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Vancouver Warriors (6-9) will head to the Sasktel Centre to face the Saskatchewan Rush (4-10) on Saturday April 9th, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Christopher Crane, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©