Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jonathan Tenca
In Week Two of the 2024-25 season, this weekend fans would see the I-90 rivalry with the Rochester Knighthawks (1-1) playing host to the defending NLL Champions Buffalo Bandits (1-0). Rochester would hold their own against the Bandits for three quarters on Saturday night December 7, 2024 at the Blue Cross Arena. However, a dominant fourth-quarter performance by the two-time defending NLL champions gave Rochester a 15-7 defeat.
The Knighthawks, trailing 7-6 heading into the final quarter saw the Bandits go on an 8-1 run to secure the win. Ryan Lanchbury led Rochester with four points (2+2), while Connor Fields contributed two goals and a game-high 16 shots. Turner Evans and Thomas McConvey each added a goal and two assists. Ryland Rees (1+0), Curtis Knight (0+1), Chad Tutton (0+1), Matt Gilray (0+1), Josh Medeiros (0+1), and Ryan Smith (0+1) also helped offensively.
Goaltender Riley Hutchcraft, appearing in his second game, made 47 saves on 62 shots, including nine in the fourth quarter, bringing his season total to 97 saves. Backup netminder Kevin Orleman made his season debut but did not face a shot during his 58 seconds of play.
Buffalo’s offensive surge was powered by the tandem of Dhane Smith and reigning NLL MVP Josh Byrne, who combined for 16 points, with Smith tallying eleven. Kyle Buchanan recorded a hat trick, and veteran goaltender Matt Vinc stood tall with 54 saves, jumpstarting Buffalo’s title defense.
Buffalo opened the scoring four minutes into the first quarter after a 10-second violation on Rochester. A sharp save by Vinc led to a full-floor pass to Dylan Robinson, who set up Tehoka Nanticoke (2g, 1a) for the first goal at 10:20 in the first quarter. Rochester held Buffalo to a 1-0 lead despite being outshot 13-7 and successfully killing off a 5-on-3 shorthanded situation late in the period.
In the second quarter, Rochester was able to tie the game when Thomas McConvey (1g, 2a), got in the middle of Buffalo’s defense and scored on a delayed penalty after receiving a pass from Lanchbury. However, momentum took Buffalo’s side with three unanswered goals, two from Smith (3g, 8a) and one from Byrne (2g, 3a), to take a 4-1 lead into halftime.
The Knighthawks came out firing in the third, scoring four straight goals to take a 5-4 lead. Turner Evans (1g, 2a), celebrating his 100th professional game, started the rally, followed up by quick goals from Ryland Rees (1g) and Ryan Lanchbury (2g, 2a). Connor (2g) Fields would then give Rochester its only lead of the night with a shorthanded tally at 8:11. Buffalo quickly responded with two scores to reclaim a 6-5 lead before Fields would tie it up again. However, the Bandits’ Ian MacKay (1g, 2a) restored their lead in the final minute of the third quarter with a shorthanded goal, making it 7-6.
Buffalo would carry momentum into the fourth, where they scored three quick goals, building a 10-6 lead. Rochester would momentarily stop the run with Lanchbury tallying his second of the night, but the Bandits would close out the game with five consecutive goals, including a pair from Kyle Buchanan (3g) and two empty-netters, sealing the 15-7 victory.
GAME STATS:
Buffalo Bandits—SOG 62; Saves 54; Sv% .885; FO 16-26; FO% .615; PP 0-5; PIM 12
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 61; Saves .758; FO 10-26; FO% .385; PP 0-4; PIM 14
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (1-1) will head west for their first road game of the season and will face the Vancouver Warriors (0-1) at Rogers Arena, in Vancouver, BC on Friday December 13, 2024, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. This game marks the teams’ only meeting during the regular season. Fans in the USA can see the action on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to watch the game on TSN+.
The Buffalo Bandits (1-0) have their second road game in a row to start the season, and will head to Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, ON to face the Ottawa Black Bears (1-0) also on Friday December 13, 2024, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can watch the game on ESPN+. The is the Game of the Week for fans in Canada and they can see the action on TSN and TSN+.
Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©