Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
Every home game for the New England Black Wolves (3-4) this year has been a nail biter. Yesterday afternoons tilt against the visiting Buffalo Bandits (2-5) was no exception. New England could not hold on to multiple three goal leads, and after an exhausting fourth quarter of back and forth goals, Buffalo would score shortly into the overtime period. It was the second game of the home and home this weekend, with both teams winning on the road. The budding rivalry between these two teams is becoming more and more apparent as both teams were physical and short tempered. FINAL SCORE: New England 15—Buffalo 16.
Much like Friday’s meeting in Buffalo, the Black Wolves would strike first. The difference was the goal scorer. Shawn Evans (6G, 6A) was held without a goal in Buffalo, but put in the first two on Sunday. The goals would come less than 15 seconds apart with the second being an absolute laser as he caught the ball coming from the bench. Buffalo would score next as Craig England (2G, 1A) picked up a loose ball in front of the Black Wolves crease with four opposing players on the ground. New England would shake it off and score another two unanswered goals. Pat Saunders (1G, 1A) would notch the first, and Kevin Buchanan (2G, 7A) would get the second off of a beautiful cross crease pass from Kyle Buchanan (1G, 3A). With the score now at 4-1, things would get chippy. Before the next goal, two sets of matching minors would be handed out, all for extracurricular activity after the whistle. The quarter would end with two more goals, another for England and the first of the game for Reilly O’Connor (2G, 1A). The score at the end of the first quarter would stand at New England – 5, Buffalo – 2.
The second quarter action was not fancy goals, but penalties. Steve Priolo from Buffalo and Bill O’Brien would get tangled early. O’Brien would serve an elbowing major and Priolo a roughing minor. Just under a minute later, Andrew Watt from Buffalo and Kevin Buchanan would get called for intentional dead ball contact; and Mitch de Snoo from Buffalo less than a minute later for holding. All of this and no goals. Just over eight minutes into the quarter, all of the penalties would clear only to see Ryan Hotaling get sent to the box for illegal substitution. To put the icing on the cake, his father was shown on the screen for military appreciation day as he was locked in the box. Dan Ball would get New England’s second penalty in a row for illegal substitution just less than a minute later. Finally, Dhane Smith (4G, 1A) would score for Buffalo on the two man advantage 9:35 into the third. Shawn Evans would here the call and score next. The shorthanded goal was New England’s eighth of the type, and the New England lead was back to three. Dhane Smith would score the last goal of the half though to bring the Bandits within two at halftime. Halftime score: New England 6—Buffalo 4.
Buffalo would flip the script in the third. Mitch Jones (1G, 5A) would score just 46 seconds in to cut the deficit to one goal. Kyle Buchanan would put the goal back to two, and then Shawn Evans would cherry pick, catch the long outlet from goalie Evan Kirk and score for his hat trick. From then on it was all Buffalo. They would score four unanswered, two of those on the power play. The tide had turned, and momentum shifted. New England was having difficulty getting a good shot. The third quarter would end with Buffalo leading New England 9-8.
The fourth quarter made this game an instant classic. New England would tie the game at nine just 27 seconds in as O’Connor scored a shorthanded goal. Mark Steenhuis (2G, 3A) would take the lead back for Buffalo just over 30 seconds later. He would then get a bit out of control and be called for an illegal body checking major 2:37 in. Kevin Crowley (3G, 4A) would score his first of the game on the power play. And then the unthinkable, Buffalo would score two goals shorthanded. Dhane Smith would bully his way in for the first and Steve Priolo (1G) unassisted for the second. Buffalo had the lead back 12-10. Shawn Evans would not give up and would score his fifth of the game just before the penalty major was released. Alex Kedoh Hill (1G, 1A) would score for Buffalo just over 30 seconds later. Kevin Crowley would put the team on his back and tie the game, scoring the next two goals in succession. The crowd was electric and on their feet. Buffalo though would take the air out of the building. Blaze Riorden (2G, 1A) would score his first of the game to take the lead back. Less than a minute later Shawn Evans would score again, making that six goals and completing the sock trick. Only two socks were thrown as New England fans still learn the nuances of the sport. That guy Blaze would answer with his second in a row for Buffalo. Kevin Buchanan was the hero this time scoring the equalizer with 1:30 left in the quarter. A final chance for both teams would not be fruitful and the game would go to over time with the score tied at 15.
Sudden death overtime and New England gets the ball and sets up the offense. The tension is so thick you would need a chainsaw. Mitch de Snoo intercepts a pass across the floor, sprints down and beats Evan Kirk for the game winner just 25 seconds in. Both teams played a physical game and a good game, but Buffalo had the one play to make the difference. FINAL SCORE: New England 15—Buffalo 16.
Next weekend, New England (3-5) will host the Colorado Mammoth (4-4) at the Mohegan Sun Center on Sunday February 26. Buffalo (2-5) heads back home to face the Toronto Rock (5-2) on Saturday February 25.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome