Christopher Crane-Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Micheline Veluvolu
On Saturday February 28, 2026, the league leading Saskatchewan Rush (10-3) had just come off only their second loss on the season Friday night in Buffalo and were itching to split the weekend in Rochester on Saturday. The Knighthawks (5-5) were looking to get back into the win column after suffering four straight losses. It was a great battle throughout with the teams starting it off with a three-goal run, followed by eight two-goal runs until the end of regulation.
The Knighthawks were looking to battle back and get into the win column and they would just do that after grinding out a thrilling overtime victory over the Rush in a game where they never had the lead until Ryan Smith, who was the hero of the night, finished off a broken play on a turnover caused by Ryan Launchbury six minutes into OT to seal the victory. Some milestones were also set in last night’s contest as Head Coach Mike Hasen coached in his 250th career regular-season game; Connor Fields notched his 300th career assist; Zed Williams collected his 150th career assist; and Matt Gilray also hit the century mark for points in his career.
It was a back-and-forth battle all night. Ryan Lanchbury was the maestro of the offense with eight assists, while teammates Connor Fields (2g, 4a) put together a six-point performance, and Zed Williams (5g) delivered a career night pouring in five goals, including the clutch equalizer late in regulation. Ryan Smith (3g, 2a) completed his hat trick with the overtime winner. Rochester’s Rylan Hartley, having returned from his suspension, was outstanding, stopping 43 shots with six of the major saves coming in overtime. Final Score OT: Knighthawks 13—Rush 12.
The Knighthawks would have to dig out of an early hole. The Rush would jump out to a 3-0 lead to start off the first in a matter of minutes, before Rochester would respond with three of their own in 90 seconds. Zed Williams, Matt Gilray, and Ryan Smith would spark the surge. Less than two minutes later, Saskatchewan answered back with two in less than 30 seconds going up 5-3. But Williams was a man on a mission, powering his way through the defense for his second score of the night. Smith would tie it up just 13 seconds later at 5-5 with 3:05 left in the frame. Both teams battled until the closing seconds of the quarter when Jake Boudreau (1g, 1a) notched the go ahead tally with 12 seconds on the ticker. Score at the end of one: Rush 6—Knighthawks 5.
It took only 15 seconds for Saskatchewan to get things started in the second. Former RIT standout Matt Hossack (1g) would tally his only point on the night, and they were up by two and the board read 7-5. In just under two minutes, the Knighthawks battled back once again with Kyle Waters (1g,2a) and Thomas McConvey (1g, 1a) evening the score sheet at sevens 5:45 into the frame. After six minutes of scoreless lacrosse, the Rush would break the silence and put up two of their own just minutes apart. Brock Haley (2g) and Ryan Barnable (2g) helped push the Rush back into the lead 9-7 with 1:35 left in the half. But before the halftime buzzer would sound, Williams answered with a diving goal on a power play opportunity giving him his hattrick on the night, to make it a one score game heading into halftime. Score at the end of two: Rush 9—Knighthawks 8.
Scoring in the second half slowed to a snail’s pace considered to the first 30 minutes of play. Fields would open up the third just 1:45 in and tied the game at 9-9. The Rush had some great opportunities, but Hartley made three breakaway saves in the first seven minutes of the frame to keep it level at nine. But Saskatchewan found some luck and after almost seven minutes of neither team finding the back of the net, Levi Anderson (2g, 2a) broke the stalemate, and it was 10-9. The Knighthawks would go man down off a slashing call with 2:44 left and the Rush took advantage with Robert Church (1g, 2a) notching a power play marker halfway into the man up and they had reestablished their two-goal lead 11-9. As the clock was winding down, Williams would be the hero once more, this time with 24 seconds left in the frame for his second power play marker to get them within one 11-10 at the end of the third.
The teams would combine for only three scores in the fourth, this time with Rochester outscoring the Rush. Just as he had done in the third, Fields opened the scoring in the fourth, this time 3:30 into the frame and the game was tied 11-11 with a whole lot of lacrosse to go. It took only 30 seconds for the Rush to gain the edge. Brock Haley (2g) was able to find the back of the net to give Saskatchewan a 12-11 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the regulation. Once again, Williams delivered, scoring his fifth of the night only 1:05 later and we were knotted at 12-12 with 9:55 remaining. Not only did Rochester want this win, but the Rush didn’t want to go home with a goose-egg in the standings during their doubleheader weekend. So, for the rest of the quarter fans would see a defensive battle with neither team scoring in the last ten minutes of regulation and goaltenders on both sides combining for 22 fourth-quarter saves sending it to sudden death overtime. Score at the end of four: Knighthawks 12—Rush 12.
As the teams headed into bonus lacrosse, overtime would feel like an eternity as two crucial plays were overturned, one of which would have been the game winning score for Saskatchewan. Unfortunately for the Rush, the shot clock had expired before the ball crossed the goal line so play continued. The second overturned call was a penalty against Rochester which would have put the Rush on a man up. The lacrosse Gods were looking down on Rochester as they continued to get the breaks, this time coming off a neutral-zone turnover, caused by Lanchbury who fired a rocket of a pass, finding Smith all alone on the crease. He threw a couple of fakes and found a hole over the right shoulder and the crowd erupted ending sudden death in their favor. Final Score OT: Knighthawks 13—Rush 12.
GAME STATS:
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 65; Saves 45; Sv% .790; FO 11-30; PP 2-4; PIM 2
Saskatchewan Rush—SOG 57; Saves 52; Sv% .800; FO 19-30; PP 1-1; PIM 8
STARS OF THE GAME:
Zed Williams – Rochester Knighthawks: 5g
Connor Fields – Rochester Knighthawks: 2g, 4a
Ryan Smith – Rochester Knighthawks: 3g, 2a & GWG
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (5-5) will play host to the Calgary Roughnecks (2-9) on Sunday March 8, 2026, at Blue Cross Arena for Marvel Super Hero Night, game time 1:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada get to catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
The Saskatchewan Rush (10-3) will have a bye week and will return to action on Saturday March 14, 2026, when they host the San Diego Seals (6-5) at Sasktel Centre in Saskatoon, game time 9:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada get to catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
Christopher Crane-Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©