Al Giscombe, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
Lacrosse is Awesome
On Saturday July 29, 2017 it was the last home game of the season for the Atlanta Blaze. They would host the Rochester Rattlers (7-6) at the Fire Pit of the Atlanta Blaze (5-8) and proceeded to extinguish the Blaze in a low scoring slugfest earning a convincing 11-7 victory. The Rattlers victory maintains their post season hopes as the Blaze will play on for pride.
It was a great evening for lacrosse and both teams played up to the occasion, the Rattlers needed a victory to maintain a playoff run and the Blaze had opportunity to play spoiler with a victory. In the first quarter Rochester started the scoring with a goal from Kip Orban (1G) then the teams traded goals with Randy Staats (1G) and Mark Matthews (2G) scoring for the Blaze; and Ty Thompson (2G) and Conor Gately (1G-1A) scoring for the Rattlers. At the end of the first quarter the score was: Rattlers 3—Blaze 2.
In the second quarter Atlanta immediately tied the game when Jeff Reynolds (2G) found the net behind goalie John Galloway. The teams traded goals in the second quarter but it was evident that the Rattlers were carrying the momentum and desire to maintain the fourth and final playoff position. The second quarter would prove to be the most productive for both teams. 
The Blaze followed up with goals from Reynolds; Matt Mackrides (1G); and Matthews (2G). Rochester would counter the second quarter scoring with a few gems from, Ryan McNamara (2G); Jack Curran (1G); and Ty Thompson (2G). The Rattlers would take a one goal lead into halftime with the score Rattlers 6—Blaze 5.
The third quarter proved to be the most exciting when Rochester’s Matt Dunn scored a goal, followed by the Blaze who would answer with two goals one from Reynolds, and the other off Dyan Donahue (1G) tying the game at seven apiece. That would be the last tie of the game as the Rattlers kept the Blaze from scoring for the remainder of the game. This was due in part to the stellar performance from Rattlers goalie Galloway who was on fire notching 17 saves on 24 shots. He was dialed in and at one point in the fourth stopped three consecutive shots on cage.
In the final frame the Rattlers extinguished the Blaze and any hopes of Atlanta making the playoffs, even though it was a mathematical long shot with an Atlanta victory. Rochester went into “keep away” AKA stall mode and was able to maintain possession for the majority of the quarter. For his stellar performance John Galloway
was chosen Player of the Game, it was also his third time keeping an opponent in single digit scoring. The lone fourth quarter goal was scored by Jordan Macintosh (1G) on a “tic-tac-toe” two passes to a shot into the twine behind Ghitelman and Gately was credited with the assist. Final Score Rattlers 11—Blaze 7.
If not for a gallant effort by the entire the Blaze defense the Rattlers would have won this game going away. Scott Ratliff played an outstanding game snagging six ground balls and running the Atlanta clear perfectly, Adam Ghitelman made 11 saves on 25 shots on goal. The Blaze offense was off kilter scoring only once on four man up possessions.
The Blaze will travel to Boston on Saturday August 5 for the final game of the 2017 season where the boys from Atlanta (5-8) will be playing for pride as they take on the (3 -10) Cannons.
Al Giscombe, Beat Writer Atlanta Blaze
Lacrosse is Awesome