Shawn Palmer, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Victoria Adkins
The Georgia Swarm (4-1) hosted the Rochester Knighthawks (2-4) on Saturday January 4, 2025, hoping to win their fifth game to start the season. If they were able to accomplish this feat, it would be the first time in their history they would start a season at 5 – 0. Rochester who won their first game dropped four in a row and were hoping to get back in the win column. The Knighthawks started quick, took a three-goal lead into the second half, went on a six-goal run to start the third quarter and blew the game open on their way to a 16 – 9 win to hand Georgia their first loss of the season.
Georgia would open the scoring just a couple of minutes into the first quarter. Lyle Thompson (2G, 1A) came across the top and his high to low shot beat Riley Hutchcraft (43 saves) through the legs for the early 1 – 0 lead. Four minutes into the quarter Curtis Knight (1G, 1A) would cut below his defender and his high to low bounce shot beat Brett Dobson (25 saves) to the far side top corner to tie the game at one. After a blocked shot in front, Brad Gillies (1G, 1A) scooped the loose ball, went in all alone and put one over the shoulder to give Rochester the 2 – 1 lead which they would not relinquish. The ‘Hawks would add another with just over five minutes left in the quarter. Kyle Waters (2G, 2A) fired a high-to-high shot that went stick side increasing their lead to 3 – 1. With just over one minute left in the first, Rochester would notch another. Ryan Smith (2G, 1A) came across a pick that was set for him and his sidearm bounce shot beat Dobson to the far side. The shots on goal at the end of the first quarter were Rochester 12 and Georgia 9. Score at the end of one: Knighthawks 4—Swarm 1.
The teams would match goal for goal in the second and it took only 45 seconds for Georgia to start off the frame. Joey Cupido (1G) in transition, came down the floor and his sidearm low to low shot beat Hutchcraft to the far bottom corner cutting the Rochester lead to 4 – 2. The Swarm would be hit with a holding call at the 4:51 mark in the frame giving the ‘Hawks their first and only powerplay opportunity on the night. Graydon Hogg would throw a cross-crease pass to Ryan Lanchbury (3G, 6A) and he’d go far side top corner to increase the Rochester lead to 5 – 2. With just over six minutes left in the first half, Connor Fields (2G, 6A) made a move around his defender at the top, cut to the net and his bounce shot went five-hole to make it 6 – 2 for Rochester. The Swarm would get their second man up with 5:41 left in the half. Bryan Cole (2G, 1A) had the ball up top and his high to low shot went glove side bottom corner stopping the Rochester run and cutting the lead to 6 – 3. Less than a minute later Andrew Kew (2G, 3A) would fire a high-to-high shot that hit the cross bar came out, hit a defender in front and went into the net making it 6 – 4 Rochester. With a little over two and a half in the second, on a delayed penalty, Graydon Hogg (2G, 1A) would take a bounce shot from the right side that went through the legs for his first career NLL goal restoring the three-goal lead for Rochester 7 – 4. The shots at the end of the first half were Rochester 30 and Georgia 23.
Less than a minute into the third quarter, Lanchbury on the give and go to Smith who put a shot over the shoulder, and they’d double up the Swarm 8 – 4. This started the six-goal run for the ‘Hawks in the frame and they didn’t look back. On the ensuing face-off Thomas McConvey (1G, 2A) fired a high to low shot from the outside that went stick side and it was 9 – 4 for Rochester. Then, Taylor Jensen (2G) while in transition on a breakaway, would beat Dobson to the top corner and their lead was 10 – 4. At this point Georgia Bench Boss Ed Comeau had seen enough and pulled Dobson in favor of Angus Goodleaf (14 saves). Unfortunately for Georgia, this didn’t help as Waters was all alone in front of the Georgia net, got the pass from Fields, beat Goodleaf to the far side and it was 11 – 4. Less than a minute later Hogg would get the cross-floor pass from Lanchbury and went short side giving Rochester an eight goal lead 12-4. They’d cap off the run when Jensen from center ran in all alone, went short side and Rochester led 13 – 4. With just over five minutes left in the third, Georgia would finally score their first goal in over 12 minutes. Cole received a pass from Thompson and beat Hutchcraft to the glove side to stop the seven goal Rochester run and make it 13 – 5. The ‘Hawks would get hit with their third penalty on the night giving the Swarm another man up opportunity and they’d capitalize. Cole sent a cross crease to Brendan Bomberry (1G, 1A) whose quick stick beat Hutchcraft to the short side and it was 13 – 6 with just over three minutes left in the third. Less than a minute later, Lanchbury would restore the eight-goal lead as he fired a low to low shot stick side and it was 14 – 6. The Swarm would put up the final tally in the frame a little over 30 seconds later when L. Thompson grabbed a loose ball, ran behind the net and dunked it over Hutchcraft’s shoulder to make it 14 – 7. The shots at the end of the third quarter was Rochester 43 and Georgia 37.
After a high scoring third, the net minders would settle in only allowing two goals each. Kew would open up the scoring in the fourth with a low to high shot from the outside that went over the shoulder cutting the Rochester lead to 14 – 8. The ‘Hawks would get that one back when Lanchbury fired a high-to-high shot over Goodleaf’s shoulder into the top corner and it was 15 – 8 for Rochester. With a little less than seven minutes in the contest, Fields scooped the loose ball after a blocked shot and his shot beat Goodleaf through the legs restoring the eight-goal lead, 16 – 8 for Rochester. The Swarm, with less than six in the contest could get that one back, but it would be their final tally on the night. Kaleb Benedict (1G, 1A) would beat his defender down low, shoot high to low far side to beat Hutchcraft for his first career NLL goal. Neither team could find the back of the net for the remaining 5:06. The shots at the end of the fourth quarter were Rochester 55 and Georgia 51. Final Score: Knighthawks 16—Swarm 9.
The Three stars of the game were:
Ryan Lanchbury – Rochester Knighthawks: 3G, 6A
Connor Fields – Rochester Knighthawks: 2G, 6A
Andrew Kew – Georgia Swarm: 2G, 3A
STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 55; Saves 43; Sv% .827%; FO 20-29; PP 1-1
Georgia Swarm—SOG 52; Saves 39; Sv% .709%; FO 9-29; PP 2-3
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (2-4) will be back in action at Blue Cross Arena on Saturday January 11, 2025, when they play host to the Halifax Thunderbirds (1-3). Fans in the USA can see the action on ESPN+. Fans in Canada get to catch the game on TSN+.
The Georgia Swarm (4-1) will host the Ottawa Black Bears (2-2) at Gas South Arena on Friday January 10, 2025, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+ and fans in Canada can see the game on TSN+.
Shawn Palmer, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©