Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
MVP Arena in Albany, New York hosted a lacrosse game on Saturday night that meant more than just the game on the field. The Tucker Out Lymphoma and Cross Out Cancer cause were on full display with NLL initiatives and there was no better game to do it. Shawn Williams, coach of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs, and his son Dyson Williams (3G, 2A), a forward for the Albany Firewolves, joined the rest of their family on the floor before the game to raise awareness and funding in the name of Tucker Williams. Tucker, brother of Dyson and son of Shawn, lost his battle with Burkitt’s Lymphoma at age eight in 2014. Shawn, a stud NLL player himself before coaching, faced his son for the first time in the league. Both teams wore uniforms designed by Dyson that were auctioned during the game and the remembrance and cause made the night truly unforgettable. There was a lacrosse game to be played though. Following a disturbing early season trend, the Albany Firewolves (1-4) lost in overtime at home for the third time this season. This time it was at the hands of the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-4) and the magic of Jackson Webster (3G, 3A) in his NLL debut. Final Score: Las Vegas-12, Albany-11.
Ethan Walker (2G, 3A) scored the first goal of the game, igniting the home crowd on this special evening. After he rolled around a screen in the high middle, he unleashed a side arm shot that beat Las Vegas netminder Landon Kells (48SV) just 47 seconds into the game. After that goal, it was apparent this scoring was not going to continue at that fast pace. Las Vegas answered, but not until there was 8:41 left in the quarter. In his first NLL career game, Webster notched his first goal in the first quarter. Jack Hannah (1G, 4A) scored just over a minute later to give Las Vegas their first lead of the night. The Firewolves fought back before the end of the quarter. Alex Simmons (2G, 5A) scored five-hole while the team was fighting off a penalty and 3:52 left before Williams scored his first of the game with 2:27 remaining. Williams tip toed the crease on the goal and with what we can assume are no hard feelings, his father had no problem throwing the challenge flag from the opposite bench. Unfortunately for him, his son’s goal was confirmed. At the end of the first quarter, Albany led Las Vegas 3-2.
The second quarter was almost an exact repeat of the first quarter. Same scoring pattern, but some different scorers. Acquired from free agency January 1, Callum Crawford (1G) scored his first goal in a Firewolves uniform, and his 498th of his career, 3:07 into the quarter. His backhand corner snipe required some elegant footwork and sure hands with some tight defense draped all over him. Webster scored his second of the night to answer again, this time with 7:23 remaining before Adam Poitras (3G) scored his first of the game with 5:39 remaining. Walker broke the 4-4 tie on a powerplay opportunity with 1:32 remaining and Mike Byrne (1G) scored unassisted in transition just 19 seconds later. At the half, Albany led Las Vegas 6-4.
Albany stretched the lead to three, the largest of the night for either team, with a Sam Firth (1G, 1A) power play goal 1:42 into the third. Las Vegas immediately responded with lock down defense and a three-goal run. Poitras scored his second of the night and Connor Kirst (1G) won the ensuing faceoff and took the ball himself for a goal just 10 seconds later. Just over a minute later, Jonathan Donville (3G, 2A) scored on a power play and suddenly the game was tied 7-7 with 10:24 left in the third. Unable to get anything going in five-on-five sets, Albany finally broke the run with another powerplay marker, this time from Williams. The goal with 7:00 remaining was the last of the quarter and the third would end with Albany leading Las Vegas 8-7.
Las Vegas wasted no time tying the game in the fourth quarter. Just 1:26 in, Kyle Killen (1G, 2A) scored on a juicy rebound after a very long offensive possession. The goal seemed to shift the momentum at MVP Arena, and they took the lead just over a minute later on a goal from Donville. Albany hadn’t trailed since the first quarter and wasn’t going to roll over. Simmons answered just 26 seconds later. The goal did not create a fourth quarter momentum change, and both teams fought hard to try and get an edge. Webster scored his hat trick goal with 10:16 remaining and it took nearly five minutes for the Firewolves to strike back again. This time, Tye Kurtz (1G, 4A) was the equalizer with 5:39 left. Donville, suddenly on fire and finding open space anywhere on the floor, snatched the lead for the road team with 4:34. In what looked like it could be the start of a fairy tale ending, Williams completed his hat trick with 2:38 left to tie the game once more. Unfortunately, neither team could find the net before the end of the fourth and headed into overtime tied 11-11.
Joe Nardella owned the faceoff circle with a 23 for 28 night at the dot, and he gave Albany the first OT possession. Nothing came of it, but Las Vegas also could not capitalize on their first try. Much to the disappointment of the home fans, Poitras scored the game winner for the Desert Dogs 2:01 into the extra time. Poitras got open cutting to the net and it was an easy assist for Webster. Final Score: Las Vegas-12, Albany-11.
Up Next:
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs (1-4) travel to play the Saskatchewan Rush (3-1) on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (1-4) travel to play the Colorado Mammoth (3-2) on Saturday, January 11 at 9:00 PM EST.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Shonly Wallace served on the Albany Firewolves bench as the Video Review Coach, becoming the first female coach in the history of the NLL. Earlier this year, Wallace became the first female scout in NLL history when she was hired by Albany.