Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome
In this week’s only NLL action we saw the Rochester Knighthawks play host to the Saskatchewan Rush in must win game two in a best of three series for the NLL Championship. In game one at the Sasktel Center, the Rush took a commanding win over Rochester. However, in front of 9,174 fans at the Blue Cross Arena, the Knighthawks had different plans as they would down the Rush 13-8 to force a “winner take all” game three.
The start of the first quarter would have Knighthawks fans starting to doubt if Rochester would pull out tonight’s game as the Rush would tally off the first two scores of the game coming just 50 seconds in. The Rush’s Robert Church got his only score of the night; followed by teammate Jeff Shattler for his first of three goals in the contest. However, it seemed to be Shattler’s goal which swung the tide in Rochester’s favor. As the goal was challenged and reviewed, Rochester seemed to settle down and would begin to play their type of lacrosse. This would come to be as the Rush were up 2-0 as the Knighthawks would then rattle off three scores of their own going ahead 3-2 with goals from Rochester’s Josh Currier (4g,2a); Graeme Hossack (2g,1a); and Eric Fannell (1g,2a). Saskatchewan’s Ryan Keenan would find the back of the net in the closing seconds to make it a 3-3 game at the end of the first quarter.
Second quarter action saw Rochester’s defense, especially their net minder Matt Vinc playing lights out the rest of the game as the Knighthawks offense also answered in the second quarter outscoring the Rush 5-1. Getting things started for the Knighthawks would be Austin Shanks beating Rush’s Evan Kirk just 26 seconds into the quarter for his only score of the night giving Rochester a 4-3 lead. Rochester’s next three goals would come from Currier who would tally two and notch his hat trick on the night; and teammate Cody Jamieson netting his first of two to make it 7-3 Knighthawks. The Rush would break Rochester’s four goal run as Ben McIntosh would put it past Vinc to make it 7-4 still in favor of Rochester. The fifth goal of the quarter for Rochester would come at the hands of Cory Vitarelli at the 2:18 mark putting them up 8-4 heading into the half.
Third quarter action would become a defensive game as both teams combined for a total of three scores with Rochester winning that battle 2-1. It would be the Rush’s Shattler netting his second of the night making it 8-5 Rochester. The Knighthawks would answer back with two scores of their own coming from Jamieson and Hossack to put Rochester up 10-5 at the end of the third.
Rochester would keep the pressure on the Rush heading into the fourth quarter of play and would have them also answering any score the Rush could manage. Tallying scores for the Rush came from Keenan; Shattler for his hat trick goal; and Dan Dawson. Rochester’s scores would come from Currier; Jackson; and Brad Gillies with the empty-netter to make it a 13-8 win making the three game series tied at 1-1.
Next week’s June 9th match up will have the Knighthawks on the road to finish out the series in winner take all game.
Christopher Crane, Beat Writer Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome