Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
On Saturday night, the Albany Firewolves (2-0) hosted the reigning NLL Champion Buffalo Bandits (0-1) at MVP Arena. The Firewolves had a lot of roster turnover from last season, but even with the new faces the team is meshing on almost all levels through the first two weeks. Their stifling defense gave the Bandits troubles all night, and the offense was able to extinguish every chance of a Buffalo run with pinpoint shots. The Bandits were playing their first game of the season and despite the big nights from Chris Cloutier (4G, 1A) and Josh Byrne (2G, 7A), they started this season the same as last, a loss to Albany. Final Score: Buffalo-13, Albany-17.
This upstate New York rivalry showed its teeth in the first quarter. Four goals were scored, and 29 penalty minutes were handed out. After going 0-9 on power plays last week, a sigh of relief was exhaled as Albany’s first goal of the night came on a man up opportunity. Ethan Walker (2G, 5A) found the net from right beside the crease 4:57 in. Byrne was able to answer for Buffalo just 25 seconds later with an outstanding single effort. He split two defenders as he dodged to the middle of the zone, elevated his stick with one hand as a third defender approached, and somehow let go a high release shot that beat goaltender Doug Jameison (33SV). The first fight of the night came soon after and the tension in the building was palpable. Brandon Robinson (2G, 1A) put Buffalo ahead with 3:07 left in the first quarter, jumping through the crease after getting the assist from Byrne. The lead did not last though. Marshall Powless (3G, 1A) netted his first of the game with just one second on the clock. The goal came during a four on three advantage, a result of another fight and a couple crosschecking penalties. At one point, it seemed there were more players in the box than on the bench! At the end of the first quarter, Buffalo and Albany were tied 2-2.
Scoring came a bit quicker to start the second quarter. Tye Kurtz (2G, 3A) scored on the opening possession, shooting around a pick from outside to sneak the ball past Matt Vinc (32SV). Buffalo had a quick answer again though. Dhane Smith (1G, 5A) scored on a powerplay just over a minute later to knot the game back up. Albany would not let them run with any momentum. Walker cut to the middle and picked the top left corner to restore the one goal home team lead. The see saw continued as Cloutier buried his first of the night just 41 seconds later. Standing on the back of their stingy defense, the Firewolves answered with the first real run of the game. Alex Simmons (5G, 3A) scored ten seconds after Cloutier and then followed it up with another goal in under two minutes. Joe Nardella (1G) extended the Albany lead to three, and Powless made it four with 6:22 remaining in the half. In four minutes, Albany found a four-goal lead. Cloutier momentarily interrupted the run with his second goal of the quarter, but Travis Longboat (2G, 5A) answered almost immediately for Albany. In almost repeat fashion, Tehoka Nanticoke (2G, 2A) cut the Buffalo deficit back to three with 2:33 left, but Longboat answered quickly again. At the half, Albany led Buffalo 10-6.
The Bandits came out of the locker room for the second half with renewed vigor. Cloutier scored his hat trick goal on another assist from Byrne as part of an unsettled pick and roll just 47 seconds in. Albany was able to answer almost immediately again though. Kurtz found the net to restore the four-goal lead. The Bandits owned the rest of the quarter. Ian MacKay (1G, 2A) scored in transition with 8:56 left, and after a long lull, Nanticoke scored with 2:55 left. Although Simmons scored his hat trick goal on the next Firewolves’ possession, Byrne scored with 28 seconds remaining and Buffalo chipped into the Albany lead. At the end of the third quarter, Albany led Buffalo 12-10.
The Firewolves proved they weren’t going to just roll over for the defending champs and opened the fourth with two transition goals within a minute of each other. Jackson Nishimura (1G, 1A) scored first, with Patrick Kaschalk (1G) providing the encore 19 seconds after. Before the under 10-minute TV timeout, Robinson got one back for Buffalo and right after the timeout, Chase Fraser (1G, 1A) cut the deficit to two again. In the last eight minutes of the game, Albany buckled down hard on defense. Although they conceded one more goal to Cloutier after a Powless tally, two consecutive goals from Simmons closed out the night. Final Score: Buffalo-13, Albany-17.
Up Next:
The Albany Firewolves (2-0) travel to play the Philadelphia Wings (1-1) on Saturday, December 16 at 1:00 PM EST.
The Buffalo Bandits (0-1) host the San Diego Seals (1-0) on Saturday, December 16 at 7:30 PM EST.