Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: M. Veluvolu
In this week’s NLL action, the Rochester Knighthawks (4-0) played host to Panther City LC (2-3) at the Blue Cross Arena. Panther City was looking to bounce back into the win column after dropping their last two games with Rochester looking to extend its’ perfect start to the season. The Knighthawks would leave no doubt and have an outing for the record books as they would defeat Panther City 17-9. They’d also set a new franchise record of goals in a game in their three year history and by winning their fourth straight would also set a franchise record for wins in a season.
Although Rochester would be without Connor Fields in the line-up they still had three players end the night with a total of seven points, Holden Cattoni (4g, 3a), Thomas Hoggarth (4g, 3a) and Curtis Knight (1g, 6a). Overall Rochester’s offense had eight different goal scorers and their defense with net minder Ryan Hartley who made 37 saves and only gave up two scores per quarter also played a big factor in there win over Panther City.
The Knighthawks would get on the board first as Ryland Rees (1g, 1a) found the back of the net early in the first quarter to put Rochester up 1-0. Both teams would go back and forth in eight minutes of play before Panther City LC would net their first of the game from Jonathan Donville (3g, 3a) to make it a 1-1 game and also get Panther City’s only other score in the first quarter. Netting Rochester’s other scores of the quarter were Ryan Smith (3g, 1a), Austin Hasen (1g, 2a), Cattoni and Knight to put the Knighthawks up 5-2 at the end of the first quarter.
Rochester’s offense and defense showed no signs of slowing down as the Knighthawks offense would go on to tally another five with their defense only allowing three goals in the second quarter. Netting scores for Rochester were Matt Gilray (2g) his only two of the night in the second and teammates Turner Evans (1g, 2a), Hoggarth and Cattoni. Tallying scores for Panther City in the second were Dean Fairall (2g), Nathan Grenon (2g, 1a) and Josh Medeiros (1g). Rochester would head into halftime with a commanding 10-5 lead.
Rochester would keep the momentum going into the third quarter as Hoggarth would tally off three scores in the frame to give him four on the night and Cattoni adding the fourth for the Knighthawks and giving Cattoni a hat trick on the night. Netting Panther City’s scores in the third quarter would be Fairall and Grenon. Rochester would still hold a commanding lead at the end of the third quarter 14-7.
The Knighthawks would show no signs of slowing down in the fourth quarter as Smith would tally two scores giving him a hat trick on the night as well as tying the Knighthawks season high goals as a team. But it would be Cattoni who would add one more score for Rochester setting a new game high goals at 17. Panther City was able to tally two scores of their own coming from Donville to give him a hat trick on the night with teammate Liam Patten (1g, 1a) scoring Panther City’s only other goal of the quarter. Unfortunately for Panther City although they fought hard and grinded it out with Rochester, the Knighthawks were able to secure a 17-9 win.
With this win Rochester now improves to 4-0 for one of the best starts in franchise history as well as a new season record four wins and now are in first place in the Eastern Division.
STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks: SOG 50; Saves 37; Sv% .822; FO 14-28; PP 2-5
Panther City Lacrosse Club: SOG 45; Saves (total) 34; Sv% .680; FO 14-28; PP 2-4
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (4-0) will travel to New York to face the New York Riptide (0-3) at Nassau Coliseum on Sunday January 15, 2023, game time 3:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Panther City Lacrosse Club (2-3) will head to east to face the Philadelphia Wings (2-1) at Wells Fargo Center on Saturday January 14, 2023, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©