Christopher Crane, Correspondent Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Trevor MacMillan
In this week’s NLL action fans saw the new expansion team the Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) play host to the Rochester Knighthawks (0-2) at Scotiabank Centre. This was a much anticipated match-up that wouldn’t disappoint as Rochester would come out firing taking an early lead at the end of the first quarter. Halifax would battle back and take advantage of some good scoring opportunities to retake the lead in the third period making it Rochester’s turn to battle back themselves. The Knighthawks would do just that into the closing minutes of the fourth period but unfortunately would fall short as the Thunderbirds would take home the win 14-12.
First period action would see Halifax’s Captain Cody Jamieson (2g, 4a) get things going just 19 seconds in to put the Thunderbirds up 1-0. Rochester would net the next two scores coming at the hands of Holden Cattoni (2g, 3a); and Dan Lintner (2g), one a short-handed goal to give the Knighthawks a 2-1 lead. This would be the first time in franchise history the Thunderbirds would not have the lead. Halifax made it a 2-2 game on a score from Ryan Benesch on the power-play (2g, 4a) at the 7:32 mark. Rochester would answer back with two of their own one from Cory Highfield (2g); and the other from teammate Lintner netting his second of the night to give the Knighthawks a 4-2 lead after the end of the first.
Game Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtKcWVEXcQY&feature=youtu.be
The second period play would see both teams in a see-saw battle of scoring, with Halifax coming out on top 4-3 and making it a one score game at the end of the period. The Thunderbirds would get the scoring started with Austin Shanks (1g, 3a) finding the back of the net at the 2:01 mark. The Knighthawks would net the next pair, one coming from Shawn Evans (2g, 2a); and the other from Curtis Knight (2g) with the score 6-3 Hawks. Halifax would find some momentum and go on a three goal run netting scores from Graeme Hossack (2g, 1a); Jamieson on the power-play; and Stephen Keogh (3g, 2a) to tie the game at six apiece. The Knighthawks were able to find the back of the net in the closing seconds from Phil Caputo (1g, 3a) to make it 7-6 heading into the half.
In the third it would be all Halifax as they would hold the Knighthawks to only one score while tallying six of their own. Netting the first in the third and the only goal for Rochester would be Highfield with his second on the night. The Thunderbirds would get scores from Keogh who would nab two in the frame to give him a hat-trick on the night; and teammates Benesch; and Hossack netting their second goals of the night. Clarke Petterson (3g, 2a), would score his first career NLL goal in the frame and net his second as well to give Halifax a 12-8 lead at the end of the third.
With 15 to go, fourth period play saw the Rochester Knighthawks begin their battle back as they would outscore Halifax 4-2 in the frame. Rochester would open it up with a goal from Knight 1:15 into the frame. But Halifax would match that with a beauty on the short-side with a behind-the-back shot and hat-trick goal from rookie Petterson. Rochester would match that with another from Evans; with Halifax hitting back once more from Mike Burke (1g). The final two goals came from the Knighthawks off Pat Saunders (1g, 1a); and with two seconds left on the shot clock Cattoni would close the gap to two. Unfortunately, the Knighthawks would fall just short to the Thunderbirds as Halifax would take a 14-12 win.
“We had a way better effort tonight,” said Thorimbert. “We were two goals away and pressing at the end of the game. Mental lapses hurt us in the third. Maybe we were riding high because we were leading at halftime. We will take those as learning lessons as a new group and go from there.”
“You are proud of any kind of accomplishment that you do in any sport,” said Thorimbert. “But you don’t start playing a sport to set records; it’s to raise that trophy over your head.”
“To me, Geoff Snider is the best all-time,” Thorimbert added. “To have my name anywhere close to his is awesome.”
“The ball was moving much better, and I thought we had confidence in each other,” said Shawn Evans. “We came in ready to play and ready to compete, and it showed.”
NEXT UP:
Rochester (0-2) will be back in action December 28th as they play host to the Toronto Rock (1-1) at the Blue Cross Arena, game time 7:00 p.m. EST.
The Halifax Thunderbirds (2-0) will head to Buffalo to face the Bandits (1-0) on December 28th at Key Bank Center, game time 7:00 p.m. EST.
Christopher Crane, Correspondent Rochester Knighthawks
Lacrosse is Awesome©