Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
MVP Arena in Albany, New York hosted a lacrosse game and a couple fights Saturday night. The Albany Firewolves (2-8) hosted the Ottawa Black Bears (5-4), but Ottawa appeared more at home on the turf. Jeff Teat (6G, 3A) dominated the game, scoring five first quarter goals before frustration boiled over and fighting started in the second quarter. The Firewolves could not get closer than five goals after the first quarter, and the Black Bears rolled their way to a nine-goal win on the road. Final Score: Ottawa Black Bears – 18, Albany Firewolves – 9.
Albany started the game on a high note. Tye Kurtz (1G, 5A) scooped up the opening faceoff and took it in for the score with just eight seconds gone. Unfortunately, Jacob Dunbar (3G, 2A) quickly answered for Ottawa, beating Doug Jamieson (13GA, 28SV) under a minute later. A few minutes of tough back and forth lacrosse followed and eventually the Firewolves took the lead again on a transition goal from Patrick Kaschalk (1G). Teat’s first goal of the game followed. The powerplay marker with 8:26 left in the quarter was followed with a Ron John (1G) transition goal just 32 seconds later. The Black Bears held their first lead of the game. Alex Simmons (3G) tied the game on the Firewolves second power play opportunity of the quarter with 7:06 remaining and then the momentum took a very quick shift. Matt Marinier (1G) scored his first goal of the season with 5:02 left and the Black Bears took off. Teat rattled off three in a row needing just over a minute to complete. Kiel Matisz (2G, 6A) joined the barrage with 1:36 remaining before Teat tallied his fifth of the quarter with 14 seconds remaining. At the end of the first quarter, Ottawa led Albany 9-3.
The unanswered run for Ottawa stretched to seven goals when Dunbar scored his second of the game 2:45 into the second quarter. Finally, the Firewolves found an offensive footing and Dyson Williams (1G, 2A) scored 4:10 in. Ethan Walker (2G, 1A) quickly followed it up 28 seconds later to bring the Firewolves within five. Penalties quickly derailed any momentum the two quick goals had. An illegal substitution call opened the door for Larson Sundown (1G, 2A) to score on the powerplay just over a minute after the Walker goal. Connor Kearnan (1G, 6A) scored next on a power play after a cross check. Matisz scored his second of the night with 1:17 remaining, also on a powerplay as a three-man scuffle erupted on the floor. At the half, Ottawa led Albany 13-5.
Albany could not get anything to click in the third quarter. While Ottawa scored just three goals, the Firewolves had four penalties and zero scores. John LaFontaine (1G, 1A) scored in transition 4:32 in and a slow scoring pace continued. With a nine-goal lead, there was not an immediate need for offensive urgency. Teat scored next with 4:27 left, completing his shock. Reilly O’Connor (2G, 3A) scored the only power play goal of the quarter with just 27 seconds on the clock. At the end of the third quarter, Ottawa led Albany 16-5.
O’Connor didn’t take long to score his second goal in a row just 1:38 into the fourth. The Ottawa Black Bears now held their largest lead of the night 17-5. With Andrew Kidd (5GA, 8SV) getting some time in goal, the Firewolves continued to fight for the remainder of the game. Walker scored on a power play, Simmons netted two just a minute apart and Sam Firth (1G, 2A) found the net with 5:05 left. Still, they trailed by eight goals. Dunbar would score the final goal of the game with 4:13 remaining. Final Score: Ottawa Black Bears – 18, Albany Firewolves – 9.
Up Next:
The Ottawa Black Bears (5-4) host the Halifax Thunderbirds (5-4) on Friday, February 21 at 7:30 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (2-8) host the Philadelphia Wings (5-5) on Saturday, February 22 at 7:00 PM EST.