Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Albany Firewolves (3-9) took the bus up I-90 for a matchup against the Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) Friday night. Lead by rookie Dyson Williams (1G, 3A), the Firewolves fell into an early hole in a low scoring first half before mounting a comeback to get within one goal with 14:03 remaining in the fourth quarter. Unfortunately, a late major penalty on Albany opened the door for Rochester to end the game on a furious rally. With seven point contributions from Connor Fields (2G, 5A) and Ryan Smith (4G, 3A), the Knighthawks secured the home victory. Final Score: Albany-7, Rochester-14
The first quarter could not have been a worse start for the visiting Firewolves. Fields scored his first goal of the game 2:01 into play, and under a minute later Curtis Knight (2G) doubled the lead for the home team. Scoring took a long break after the goal with 11:11 remaining, but it was the Knighthawks who broke through eventually. Smith notched his first on a power play opportunity with 3:08 remaining. The Albany attack just could not find the right openings through the Rochester defense and left the first quarter without a goal. At the end of the first quarter, Rochester led Albany 3-0.
Fortunes turned around momentarily at the start of the second quarter. Wil Johansen (1G, 1A) broke free in transition and took the assist from Doug Jamieson (13GA, 50SV) to the cage 1:12 in. Finally the Firewolves were on the board. Scoring again took a break before Fields and Smith scored 17 seconds apart. With 7:39 left in the half, Rochester now held a 5-1 lead. With time winding down, Williams finally scored his first of the game. The power play goal came with just 29 seconds on the clock. At the half, Rochester led Albany 5-2.
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he start of the third quarter did not give the impression that Albany was going to find their way back into this game. Thomas McConvey (1G, 4A) scored just 27 seconds into play, and Ryland Rees scored unassisted just under two minutes later. Just 2:02 into the third quarter and Rochester now led 7-2. But, in a low scoring game, anything is possible. Albany was able to put together a run. Sam Firth (1G, 1A) found the net on a power play, Colton Watkinson (1G) scored unassisted in transition, and Williams notched his second of the game with 6:12 remaining in the quarter. The Rochester lead was now just two, but Knight scored for Rochester with 5:03 left to end the run. At the end of the third quarter, Rochester led Albany 8-5.
Rochester and Albany continued to play more physically as the game progressed, both clearly frustrated by the low scoring affair. The Firewolves scored two power play goals in the first minute of the fourth. Alex Simmons (1G, 3A), held in check for most of the night, scored 33 seconds in and Williams followed with his hat trick goal 24 seconds later. The Firewolves were now within one goal of Rochester with the score at 8-7. Enter Ryan Lanchbury (2G, 4A). Lanchbury scorched two goals in a row for Rochester just over a minute apart extending the lead to 10-7. Smith extended the lead to four goals with a power play goal and 9:49 left. In hopes of turning things around with some hard defense, Mike Byrne was assessed a major penalty with 6:08 left in the game. Playing a man down, Albany could not contain the Rochester attack. Smith scored again, before Graydon Hogg (1G, 2A) and Jake Piseno (1G) found the net in the closing minutes. Rochester closed the game on a 6-0 run. Final Score: Albany-7, Rochester-14.
Up Next:
The Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) travel to play the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (3-8) on Friday, March 7 at 10:30 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (3-9) travel to play the Philadelphia Wings (5-6) on Saturday, March 8 at 7:00 PM EST.