Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Panther City Lacrosse Club (9-8) hosted the Albany Firewolves (10-7) for a Sunday matinee this week. Having lost four in a row entering Texas, the Firewolves have clinched a post season berth but have quickly been falling further down the standings. Panther City is firmly in the jungle of teams around.500 on the season and every win pushes them closer to making the final top eight. Sunday’s game was a low scoring affair, but on the back of Callum Crawford (4G, 2A), Panther City defeated the Firewolves in their last home game of the season. Final Score: Albany-7, Panther City-11.
Panther City absolutely owned the first quarter by holding Albany scoreless and putting four goals past Firewolves’ goaltender Doug Jamieson (30SV). Albany had a couple of early good looks, but Panther City netminder Nick Damude (54SV) turned everything away. It took two 2:15 of game time for the first ball to cross the goal line, a quick stick shot from the middle off the crosse of Brandin Goodwin (3G). One minute later, Josh Medieros (2G) doubled the lead scoring in transition from a long Damude assist. After a few minutes of scoreless action, Crawford netted his first of the game with 5:13 left in the quarter before Goodwin notched his second of the quarter with 3:10 remaining. At the end of the first quarter, Panther City led Albany 4-0.
The roll continued for the home team to start the second quarter. Crawford rolled around a high screen and found space in the middle of the floor, notching his second goal of the game and 39th of the season just 52 seconds in. 45 seconds later, Medieros picked up a loose ball in the defensive end and took it full turf, rolling in his second transition goal of the game. With 13:37 left in the second, Panther City led 6-0. But lacrosse is infamously a game of runs and Albany finally had an answer. Patrick Kaschalk (1G) scored Albany’s game opening goal with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter, 19:39 into game play. Although it took a couple minutes of gametime, the momentum swayed a little towards the visitors. Alex Simmons (1G, 1A) scored his lone goal of the game with 6:32 remaining, driving the net from a side lane and finishing high. Just over two minutes later, Ethan Walker (1G, 2A) scored with a sidearm from up top after dodging around some screens. John Piatelli (2G) scored the final goal of the quarter, unassisted in transition, with 2:20 remaining and Albany was back in the game. At the half, Panther City led Albany 6-4.
The momentum swing did not carry over into the third quarter for the visitors. 1:40 ticked off the clock before the first goal of the second half and it belonged to Panther City. Goodwin scored his hat trick goal after being left open in the high middle of the offensive zone to increase the lead to three. Albany got the goal back with 8 :20 remaining as Sam Firth (1G, 2A) squeaked a sidearm into the net. The remainder of the third quarter was hard nosed defensive play. At the end of the third quarter, Panther City led Albany 7-5.
Panther City quickly ended the Albany run at the start of the fourth quarter with a Crawford goal just 1:22 in. Looking for any opening to get back into the contest, Albany was firing at the net early and often with no results. Crawford scored his second in a row with 6:20 left, bringing the home lead to four again. Will Malcolm (2G, 3A) put the lid on the can with two unanswered goals that followed. The first came with 3:58 remaining, and the second was an empty netter with 59 seconds left. Piatelli and Nathon Grenon (1G, 1A) both scored for Albany in the last 33 seconds to bring us to the final. Final Score: Albany-7, Panther City-11.
Up Next:
The Albany Firewolves (10-7) travel to play the New York Riptide () on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 PM EST.
Panther City Lacrosse Club (9-8) will travel to play the Calgary Roughnecks () on Saturday, April 20 at 9:00 Pm EST.