Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
After a visit from the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-2) Saturday night, the Albany Firewolves (5-0) remain undefeated to start the season. Albany was not in control the entire game, but netminder Doug Jamieson (45SV) kept the offense within striking distance going into the second half of the fourth quarter. Halifax had a two-goal lead 34 seconds into the fourth quarter, but a strong Firewolves defense and transition persevered through to end the game on a four-goal unanswered run to take a two-goal victory. Final Score: Halifax Thunderbirds-10, Albany Firwolves-12.
The Thunderbirds opened the scoring on the road in Albany, which is no surprise since they came in with the highest goals per game average in the league at just over 15 per game. After a good pass around the offensive zone, Randy Staats (1G, 4A) found Dawson Theede (2G, 2A) cutting to the net. Theede easily caught the pass on the run and rolled the ball past Jamieson for the game opening goal 1:08 into play. The game slowed for the next few minutes as the defenses disrupted offensive sets. Austin Shanks (3G, 1A) broke the drought five minutes into the quarter and the visiting Halifax team had the early lead. 50 seconds later though, Ethan Walker (1G, 3A) finally got the home team on the scoreboard. After beating his defender with a spectacular stutter move, he fired the shot past Warren Hill (35SV) while running towards the net. Defenses stepped up again and a long scoreless drought fell in Albany. It ended in a small flurry starting with an unassisted Gramme Hossack (1G, 1A) goal with just 2:55 remaining. The two-goal Halifax lead didn’t last long though as off the ensuing faceoff Nathon Grenon (1G, 1A) only needed 26 seconds to get it back. At the end of the first quarter, Halifax led Albany 3-2.
Albany did not wait long to tie the game in the second quarter. Travis Longboat (2G, 3A) ran around half the offensive zone to find a wide-open lane to the middle. His jump shot through the crease equalized the score just under two minutes in. Keeping with the defensive theme of the night, six minutes passed before the next goal. Shanks scored his second of the night with 7:15 remaining in the half putting the Thunderbirds ahead again. Albany found a spark of offense in transition to turn the game in a different direction. First, Patrick Kaschalk (2G) scored after taking the outlet pass from Jamieson all the way to the net. On the ensuing faceoff, Joe Nardella (1G) won and took it all the way himself. In the span of five seconds, Albany flipped the one goal deficit to a one goal lead, their first of the night. Kaschalk made it a two-goal lead just under a minute later, again showcasing the dominant transition team. Things slowed a little after that, but Longboat made it a four-goal run with his second of the quarter and 2:20 remaining. Desperate to stop the onslaught, Ryan Benesch (2G, 2A) scored from the middle with 59 seconds left in the half on a wonderful display of cross turf passing by Halifax. At the half, Albany led Halifax 7-5.
Halifax used the first third of the third quarter to fight back. Clarke Petterson (1G, 3A) scored on a powerplay opportunity 4:19 in, and Benesch scored his second of the game (and 12th of the year) to tie the game 7-7 with 9 :32 remaining. The middle third of the third quarter again showcased the defenses, and it wasn’t until 1:44 remained in the quarter until Sam Firth (2G) buried a shot from outside through the legs of Hill to give the lead back to the home team. Unfortunately, the lead didn’t last to the fourth. With 55 seconds remaining Theede rolled to the crease and dove to score the equalizer. At the end of the third quarter, Halifax and Albany were tied 8-8.
To the dismay of the Albany crowd, Halifax came out firing to start the fourth quarter. Staats scored just 16 seconds in, dancing wide open on the crease before putting the ball in the net. Shanks followed with a transition goal off the faceoff scrum 18 seconds after that. Suddenly, the Firewolves were down two goals. The defense settled down after the quick pair of goals and Alex Simons (2G, 3A) entered the chat. Held to only two assists up until this point, Simons broke through with two straight goals to tie the game again. Both assisted by Walker, the first came on a powerplay opportunity and the second entered the net with 9:32 remaining. The Halifax offense desperately tried to find the scoring success that has graced them this season, but instead Firth scored tiptoeing across the crease with 6:17 remaining to return the lead to Albany. Neither team could score again until Nick Chaykowsky (1G) buried an empty netter with 14 seconds left. Final Score: Halifax-10, Albany-12.
Up Next:
The Halifax Thunderbirds (2-2) host the Toronto Rock (3-0) on Friday, January 12 at 6:30 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (5-0) travel to play the Georgia Swarm (4-1) on Saturday, January 13 at 7:30 PM EST.