Di Miller, Colorado Mammoth Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Jonathan Tenca
The Colorado Mammoth (5-3) headed east to Blue Cross Arena, to face the Rochester Knighthawks (3-6) for the first time in franchise history since the inception of the “new” Knighthawks. It was all the way to 2018 when Colorado was in Rochester and faced the original Knighthawks. With all of Colorado’s wins this season being comeback wins, tonight would be no different as they would steal the win from the Knighthawks with 2.3 seconds on the clock. The game was exciting from start to finish with the teams being tied or having a one goal lead for all but 1:37 minutes of the first 36 and a half minutes. Both Dillon Ward (38 Saves; .775 Sv%) and Riley Hutchcraft (34 Saves; .773 Sv%) stood tall in between the pipes for the entire 60 minutes. Final Score: Mammoth 11—Knighthawks 10.
It took a little over five minutes for the game to get going while fans saw back and forth action between the two netminders. Colorado would break the silence 5:04 in when Wil Malcom (3g, 1a) got the feed from Connor Kelly, stepped down, fired a rocket and went five hole to make it 1-0. The ‘Hawks would get on the board two minutes later. Thomas McConvey, from up top, fed to a wide-open Ryan Smith (1g, 2a) on the crease and he went far side over the shoulder tying it at 1-1. The fans would see a defensive battle for the next eight minutes before they’d see the tie break. With 20.4 seconds in the frame, Ryland Reese went to the sin bin for tripping and Colorado would notch their first and only man up tally on the night. Connor Robinson (3a) would feed to Ryan Lee (5a), and he’d pass across the crease to Eli McLauglin (4g, 1a) for the quick stick marker on the doorstep with 7.1 seconds left in the first. Score at the end of one: Mammoth 2—Knighthawks 1.
For the next 45 minutes, the fans would be treated to a defensive battle and precise shooting between the two teams who would combine for 18 goals.
The teams would match goal for goal in the second with Colorado starting off the battle. McLaughlin out of the box, got the feed from Owen Rahn, extended his arms and found the back of the net 1:38 in for the two-goal lead 3-1. Three minutes in, Connor Cook would get hit with a roughing call giving the ‘Hawks their second man up on the night and this time, they’d capitalize. Connor Fields would feed to Lanchbury, who sent the cross crease pass to McConvey (2g, 2a), they got Ward to slide the opposite way and McConvey dropped it in near side 3:02 in and it was 3-2. Ryan Lanchbury (2g, 4a) was next to score. He got the pick from Ryan Smith, which opened the lane, and he was able to make his way to the cage and bounced it in for the equalizer 3-3. They’d get their first lead on the night at the 7:21 mark. Fields and Smith on the give and go, found an open Lanchbury on the left goal crease, he caught it high and brought it down low finding the inside pipe for the lead 4-3. Again, in exciting fashion, Colorado would tie it up once more. Malcom went across the top, was wide open, he’d shoot and score with a bounce shot five hole with 6:42 left in the half. After the Mammoth were hit with a holding the stick call, they’d come off the man down and go right back man down off another penalty. This time a slashing call against Owen Down. He’d head to the sin bin with 2:53 left in the frame and be forced into the PK again. This time, however, Colorado would notch their second short-handed tally of the season. Ward sent an outlet pass down the floor, it hit the back of the official, Owen Rahn (1g, 1a) would get the hop, ran to the cage and put it near side top cheddar 20 seconds into the man down and they’d take the lead. About 10 seconds later, Colorado would have too many men on the floor stopping the clock. It turned out Down was released from the penalty box before it was over and as it was not his fault; the game clock and penalty clock were reset allowing Rochester to finish out the man up. They squandered the opportunity and seemed a bit out of step during the frame. The clock would eventually run down ending the half. Score at the end of two: Mammoth 5—Knighthawks 4.
FIRST HALF STATS:
Colorado Mammoth—23 SOG; 18 Saves; Sv% .818; FO 6-10; CTO 17; LB 40; PP 1-2; Assists 7
Rochester Knighthawks—22 SOG; 18 Saves; Sv% .783; FO 4-10; CTO 18; LB 39; PP 1-4; Assists 7
The third saw seven combined goals with Rochester dominating the frame outscoring Colorado 5-2. Ian Llord (1g) would notch his first goal since 2022 just 47 seconds in. He got the turnover, headed down the floor, had no one to pass to and decided to fire a low shot five hole and we were tied at 5. The ‘Hawks would take the lead less than 60 seconds later. McConvey who was wide open, got the flip toss from Fields, he wound up and put it top corner on the outside 6-5. Colorado would hit back at the 3:30 mark. Connor Kelly (1g, 4a) who’s tied for second behind Lyle Thompson for most goals scored this season, put a nice spin move on his defender, turned and fired it down low near side and we were tied again 6-6. The fans would not be disappointed because it took only 90 seconds for Rochester to score again. Kyle Waters (2g) connected from the right wing with a nice mid-range shot and went five hole 7-6 ‘Hawks. But just as the fans were celebrating, McLaughlin would get the screen from Malcom, turned towards the center and put it five hole with 6:26 to go and it was tied at 7’s. As six minutes ticked off the clock the fans wondered if their team could get and keep the lead. With 2:57 left in the frame, Rochester would put up two goals in 30 seconds. The first was a power-play tally from Fields on the give and go, he was out in front, faked the behind the back pass and fired a shot over the shoulder of Ward breaking the tie once more. Waters would score his second off a flip toss from Lanchbury, he tip toed the crease and buried it low giving them their first two goal lead on the night and the largest lead by either team in 24 minutes. Rochester would pull Hutchcraft for the extra attacker in the last 20 seconds but could not capitalize. Score at the end of three: Knighthawks 9—Mammoth 7.
Even though the fourth got off to a slow start, it had to be the most exciting frame of the game. Colorado would finally find twine 7:11 in on a transition goal. Tim Edwards (1g) got up ahead of his defender and fired it on the run top corner getting them to within one 9-8. Three minutes later, Fields dumped it to McConvey who flip tossed it to Curtis Knight (1g, 1a) and he put it over the shoulder restoring the two-goal lead with 4:58 left in the contest to make it 10-8. Unfortunately for the ’Hawks fans, they would start to fall apart in the last minutes allowing the Mammoth to capitalize. Robinson passed to Lee who found McLaughlin in the slot, and he put a quick stick shot into the back of the net with 3:39 to go and it was 10-9 and they’d tie it up 29 seconds later. Malcom fought his way around two defenders and Robinson with the screen allowed Malcom to find an open lane and he hit twine, and it was tied at 10’s. Rochester would give up possession twice in a row on timeline violations giving the Mammoth the chance they needed for the comeback. With 39.7 seconds in the contest Rochester would call a time out to set up the play. But Lanchbury was denied, and Colorado immediately called a time out with 21.3 seconds left. Colorado went with the empty net, Malcom and Kelly on the give and go, found Zed Williams (1g), he got some space out in front and found a sliver of an opening on the inside pipe with 2.3 seconds left for the buzzer beater victory. Final Score: Mammoth 11—Knighthawks 10.
STARS OF THE GAME:
Eli McLaughlin, Colorado Mammoth—4g, 1a
Wil Malcom, Colorado Mammoth—3g, 1a
Ryan Lanchbury, Rochester Knighthawks—2g, 4a
GAME STATS:
Colorado Mammoth—SOG 44; Saves 38; Sv% .775; FO 12-23; PP 1-2; PIM 10
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 49; Saves 34; Sv% .773; FO 11-23; PP 2-5; PIM 4
NEXT UP:
The Colorado Mammoth (5-3) head back home to Ball Arena to host the Toronto Rock (2-5) on Saturday February 1, 2o25, game time 9:30 p.m. EST. This is the first time since January 12, 2019 that the Rock have faced the Mammoth in Denver. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. We’ll also be on the floor shooting the game.
The Rochester Knighthawks who fall to the bottom of the pile in the NLL with a record of (3-6) will head down to Wells Fargo Center to face the red hot second place Philadelphia Wings (5-2) also on Saturday February 1, 2025, game time 8:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. We’ll also be on the floor shooting this game as well.
Di Miller, Colorado Mammoth Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©