Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: V. Strobel
This week the Rochester Knighthawks (3-0) were on the road to take on the Albany FireWolves (1-1) at MVP Arena. It began as a fast-paced matchup where both sides were able to keep up with each other’s transition game until Albany’s John LaFontaine (1g 1a) was able to sneak behind Rochester’s defense at 12:39 to put the FireWolves up 1-0. The FireWolves would then go up 3-0 as they would get scores from Tanner Thomson (1g 2a) and Jerome Thompson (3g) who would net his first of three on the night. Rochester would finally get on the board when Turner Evans (1g, 3a) would make it a 3-1 game at 4:45 of the first quarter. Albany would go back up by three when Justin Scott (3g 1a) would net his first of three on the night. The Knighthawks got a power-play marker at the 1:28 mark from Ryan Smith (3g) who was also another player to tally a hat trick on the night. Albany would go up by two scores at the end of the first quarter 4-2.Second quarter action saw both teams exchange scores as each would net a pair before the other would net theirs. It would be Albany’s Connor Kelly (1g 3a) and Ethan Walker (1g 2a) getting things started for the FireWolves in the second to go up 6-2 over Rochester. The Knighthawks answered back from the likes of Connor Fields (4g 4a) who is currently the NLL’s leading point-getter with 25 through his first three games with the Knighthawks and he ended the night with an eight-point performance. Rochester’s Matt Gilray (1g 3a) would net the Knighthawks second score of the second quarter at 8:37 to make it a 6-4 game. The FireWolves would have their next two goals come from J. Thompson for his second on the night and teammate Charlie Kitchen (1g 2a) scoring Albany’s other goal to make it 8-4. Rochester would be able to get one more in the second from Thomas Hoggarth (1g 2a) to make it a 8-5 game heading into halftime.
The FireWolves offense seemed to stall in the third quarter and the Knighthawks would take advantage and go on a five goal run that was led by Holden Cattoni (2g 2a) who would net his two scores on the night. Tallying Rochester’s other scores were Curtis Knight (2 g 5a), Smith, and Fields to make it a 10-8 game with Rochester taking its first lead of the night at the 4:25 mark of the frame. Albany was able to interrupt Rochester’s run as FireWolves Colton Watkinson (1g) found the back of the net at the 1:29 mark to make it a 10-9 game. Rochester would extend its lead to two scores on a Smith goal giving him a hat trick on the night to make it an 11-9 game. Albany wasn’t going away that easy and would tally off two more in the closing seconds to tie it up at the end of the third quarter to make it an 11-11 game. Scoring for the FireWolves would be Aaron Forster (1g) and J. Thompson.
It took a while for the fourth quarter to get going and fans would see the FireWolves take back the lead at 8:13 on a score from Scott who would also score Albany’s only other goal of the frame. Unfortunately for the visitors, it wouldn’t be enough to hold off the Knighthawks as they would tally three more in the fourth with Knight netting one and Fields netting the other two Rochester’s scores of the frame. The Knighthawks would be able to hold on and secure a 14-13 win over the Albany FireWolves to improve to 3-0 on the season with Albany falling to 1-1.
STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks: SOG 64; Saves 28; GA 13; SV% .683%; FO 23-30; PP 1-3
Albany FireWolves: SOG 41; Saves 50; GA 14; SV% .781%; FO 7-30; PP 0-0
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (3-0) have a long break and won’t be in action until after the New Year when they will host the Panther City Lacrosse Club (2-1) at Blue Cross Arena on January 7, 2023, 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 Albany FireWolves (1-1) will also enjoy an extended break and will play host to Halifax Thunderbirds (3-0) on January 7, 2023, 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.
Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©