Christopher Crane, Correspondent Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Photo Credit: Di Miller
The Rochester Knighthawks (7-7) shook off an early four-goal deficit to steamroll the Las Vegas Desert Dogs (3-10) in a commanding 21-13 win Friday night March 7, 2025, at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson, NV. Despite Rochester falling behind 4-0 in the opening minutes, the Knighthawks quickly turned the tide, launching an unstoppable offensive surge that saw them net 13 straight goals as part of a 16-1 run. Three Knighthawks Connor Fields, Ryan Smith, and rookie Graydon Hogg recorded hat tricks on the night.
In their first ever appearance in Las Vegas, the ‘Hawks would sweep the season series over the Dogs in their 21-goal performance setting a franchise record for Rochester and their third consecutive win. Rochester has now won four of their last five road games, climbing back to an even .500 on the season.
Connor Fields was the driving force behind the win, delivering an outstanding 11-point performance (6+5) to maintain his lead atop the NLL scoring charts. With this type of play from Fields, the MVP frontrunner moved into seventh all-time in scoring among American-born players and is now just five points away from becoming the first player in league history to reach hundred points in three consecutive seasons.
Ryan Smith (4+2) was dominant on the power play, with three of his four tallies coming on man-up opportunities. Ryan Lanchbury (2+7) and Curtis Knight (1+6) also made major contributions, each finishing with at least six points respectively. Hogg (4+1), Thomas McConvey (1+3), Ethan O’Connor (1+1), Matt Gilray (1+1), and Kyle Waters (1+1) all posted multi-point nights, while Taylor Jenson and Josh Medeiros tallied on the scoresheet with assists.
Goaltenders Rylan Hartley (5GA-6 Svs) and Riley Hutchcraft (8GA-28 Svs) combined for 34 saves to secure the victory, as the Knighthawks would switch goalies early in the first quarter with Hutchcraft subbing in for Hartley and remained in for the rest of the contest.
Las Vegas would come out firing in the first, racing to a 4-0 lead in the first five minutes. But Rochester wasted no time mounting a response. Hogg opened the scoring for the Knighthawks at 5:35, setting off an offensive explosion. His goal sparked a five-goal run to close the quarter, including another from him on the power play. Matt Gilray’s tally would come from capitalizing on a Vegas turnover marking the start of Rochester’s onslaught of a 13-0 stretch, as the teams finished the opening quarter knotted at 5-5.
The Knighthawks took full control in the second, piling on eight goals, including three more on power play opportunities. Hogg’s third goal of the night gave Rochester its first lead, securing his first hat trick of the season. C. Fields then took over, scoring three straight goals in under five minutes. With his third goal coming from a Las Vegas miscue, intercepting a pass from goaltender Landon Kells before maneuvering around the netminder to make it 9-5. The Knighthawks G. Hogg’s fourth goal pushed Rochester into double digits, and in the final 1:14 of the half, McConvey and Smith would tack on three more to give the Knighthawks a commanding with Smith’s first goal coming on a penalty shot in the closing seconds of the second quarter. They’d head to the locker room with a 13-5 lead.
Smith would stay hot in the third, completing a natural hat trick just two minutes into the quarter on yet another power-play tally. He then added a fourth straight goal from the left side. Rochester’s power play finished 5-for-7 on the night, marking the second straight game with that efficiency. Waters would push the lead to 16-5 before Las Vegas finally stopped Rochester’s historic run. Connor Kirst scored 18 seconds later for the Desert Dogs and the team’s first goal since the end of the first. But the Knighthawks wouldn’t let up with Fields and Lanchbury striking again to make it an 18-6 game, and their largest lead of the game. A late Cattoni goal in the third quarter would spark a Dogs four goal run to heading into the fourth.
Vegas started the fourth quarter with Jackson, Killen, Donville and Poitras capping off the run, narrowing the gap to 19-12. But Fields quickly shut the door, netting his fifth goal on the night, halting any comeback attempt by the Desert Dogs. Four minutes later, Fields would add his sixth tally on the night earning him the rare feat of a “sock trick” and ensuring Rochester’s record-setting win. The last tally came from Casey Jackson who, with 14 seconds left in the game, would close it out on the night. Final Score: Knighthawks 21—Desert Dogs 13.
GAME STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 60; Saves 34; Sv% .723; FO 24-38; PP 5-7; PIM 21
Las Vegas Desert Dogs—SOG 47; Saves 39; Sv% .650; FO 13-38; PP 1-1; PIM 21
STARS OF THE GAME:
Connor Fields—Rochester Knighthawks: 6G, 5A
Ryan Smith—Rochester Knighthawks: 4G, 2A
Adam Poitras—Las Vegas Desert Dogs: 2G, 5A
NEXT UP:
The Knighthawks (7-7) continue their road-heavy schedule with a trip north of the border on Saturday, March 15, 2025 for their first matchup against the Ottawa Black Bears (5-6) at Canadian Tire Centre, game time 3:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
The Desert Dogs (3-10) will head to the West Coast to face the San Diego Seals (5-7) at Pechanga Arena on Sunday March 16, 2025, game time 4:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
Christopher Crane, Correspondent Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome©