Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The three-time defending champion Buffalo Bandits (3-3) hosted the Ottawa Black Bears (4-3) Friday night at Keybank Center. Neither team had a breakout offensive evening in the defense heavy matchup. Dhane Smith (3G, 4A) was the only Bandit to record multiple goals and multiple assists in support of netminder Matt Vinc (10GA, 37SV). In the low scoring game, the largest lead was two goals either way. Ottawa was led by Jeff Teat (5G, 2A) on the offensive end who shot almost 50% on the evening. Zach Higgins (9GA, 44SV) stood on his head at times to keep the defending champions behind at the end. Final Score: Ottawa Black Bears – 10, Buffalo Bandits – 9.
Buffalo started the game on a high note, scoring the game’s first two goals. Paul Dawson was put in the box for an illegal cross check 1:07 in, but the Bandits scored the first goal of the game shorthanded. Smith scored the goal, plowing through a defender on his way to the net full speed. Scoring took a little break as Ottawa could not capitalize on the advantage. With 9:15 remaining, Tehoka Nanticoke (2G) doubled the early lead on an underhand shot in traffic. With the remaining time in the quarter, Ottawa buckled down and answered. Teat scored his first of the game with 3:21 left on a one-time laser from outside, and Jacob Dunbar (1G) tied the game with 32 seconds on the clock. At the end of the first quarter, Ottawa and Buffalo were tied 2-2.
Much like the first quarter, Smith found the back of the net first in the second quarter. This time it was by accident. Smith tried a float pass to Kyle Buchanan (1G, 3A) on the crease, but the ball floated right past him and into the net. Just 31 second alter, Sam Firth (1G, 1A) tied the game 3-3, scoring from the crease after a pass from behind the net. After another scoring break, Teat gave Ottawa their first lead of the game, scoring on a man advantage with 6:39 left in the half. The lead would not last until halftime. Veteran Steve Priolo (1G) scored for Buffalo in transition with 1:46 remaining to tie the game once more. At the half, Ottawa and Buffalo were tied 4-4.
Keeping with tradition, Smith scored with a sidearm shot to open the third quarter and return the lead to Buffalo. Just over a minute later, Callum Jones (1G) scored unassisted in transition to tie the game once more. With 11:40 left in the third quarter, Rob Hellyer (2G, 5A) launched a side arm from the high middle that gave Ottawa the lead, but Ian MacKay (1G, 1A) followed it up 49 seconds later with his lone goal of the game to tie it again. Scoring paused again until Nanticoke put Buffalo ahead with 2:24 left. At the end of the third quarter, Buffalo led Oshawa 7-6.
Ottawa took control early in the fourth quarter. Teat would tie the game 2:06 into play, and then just under a minute later, give the Black Bears the lead on a power play goal assisted by Reilly O’Connor (6A). Every shot he took seemingly had eyes, and the ability to stretch over the shoulder of Vinc into the net. Hellyer extended the Ottawa lead to two with 10:05 left in the game, the largest Ottawa lead until this point. After another session of defensive stops back and forth, Teat buried his fifth goal of the game with four minutes on the clock. Ottawa led 10-7 with minutes to play. As Higgins dove left, right, up and down Buffalo could not find any opening until Josh Byrne (1G, 1A) found space with an extra attacker on the floor and 2:08 on the clock. His goal fired up the Banditland crowd. With the clock working against them, Buffalo found Buchanan wide open on the crease for a one-time goal. With 1:03 left, the Bandits were now down just one. Connor Farrell won the ensuing faceoff and immediately a timeout was called. With an empty net and a chance to tie the game, Smith had his shot blocked by a defender and transition quickly broke out for Ottawa. Unfortunately, the Ottawa players held the ball rather than scoring on the empty net surrounded by defenders. Buffalo scrapped for a turnover and had one more chance with under 30 seconds remaining. The chaos did not lead to a good look and the game ended. Final Score: Ottawa Black Bears – 10, Buffalo Bandits – 9.
Up Next:
The Ottawa Black Bears (4-3) host the Vancouver Warriors on Friday, January 23 at 7:30 PM EST.
The Buffalo Bandits (3-3) have a week off before visiting the Colorado Mammoth on Saturday, January 31 at 9:00 PM EST.