Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome
Featured Image Photo Credit: Micheline V.
Th Rochester Knighthawks (3-10) would play host to the Philadelphia Wings (6-7) at the Blue Cross Arena in front of a crowd of 4,571 for the final game of the series. The Wings had already defeated the ‘Hawks in their first meeting on January 22 by the score of 18-10. Both teams have been having a rough go as well with each having lost four in a row coming into last night’s contest. This was another crucial Eastern Division matchup as the Wings needed a win to help boost and keep them around that fifth place spot in the division just two games behind the Georgia Swarm heading into the game and who currently hold the last playoff spot being number four in the division. Rochester was looking to finally get into the win column and some redemption, sitting dead last in the East. But Philadelphia had other plans as they would control the face-offs winning 18-24 and Trevor Baptiste credited with 18 of 23, they would also convert 6 out of 8 power plays for scores with Corey Small (6g, 2a) netting three of his six on the night during power play opportunities. Rochester would begin to show signs of life in the second half starting a late surge to overcome the 9-2 deficit from the first half but unfortunately it wouldn’t be enough as the Wings would go onto the victory. Final Score: Wings 12—Knighthawks 8.
The game got off to an unfortunate start for Rochester. Only 18 seconds in, Knighthawks Tyler Biles decided to go after Ben McIntosh right after the opening face-off, from what some believe had to do with something that happened during a previous meeting of the two teams in late January. McIntosh brushed it off, but the referees felt that the incident was deserving of a five-minute major and a game misconduct for being the aggressor both given to Biles. This accounted for the early three goal power-play scores for Philadelphia giving them a 3-0 lead. Tallying the scores for the Wings were Corey Small (6g, 2a), Ben McIntosh (3g, 1a) and Blaze Riorden (2g, 2a). Rochester would answer back with two of their own late in the period coming from Ryan Smith (2g, 1a) at the 9:56 mark and John Wagner (1g) tallying his only score of the night at 10:32 of the period to make it a 3-2 game. The Wings however, would notch two more before the end of the period from Small and McIntosh for their second scores of the night to give Philadelphia a three goal lead at the end of the period. Score at the end of one: Wings 5—Knighthawks 2.
It would be all Philadelphia in the second as they would outscore Rochester 4-0. Tallying scores for the Wings were Small netting the first two to give him a hat-trick and a total of four on the night so far. Other Wings players would be Riorden for his second on the night and teammate Kyle Jackson (1g, 5a) who was just acquired as a Free Agent from being released by the Halifax Thunderbirds would net the fourth for Philadelphia in the period to give the Wings a seven goal lead heading into the half. Score at the end of two: Wings 9—Knighthawks 2.
The Knighthawks would begin to show signs of life in the third as they would make a small dent in Philadelphia’s lead by netting two in the period and blanking the Wings. Notching the tallies for Rochester were be Charlie Bertrand (1g) at the 1:53 mark and teammate Thomas Hoggarth (2g) scoring his first of two on the night at the 10:13 mark to cut the Wings lead to five. Score at the end of three: Wings 9—Knighthawks 4.
In the fourth, Small from the Wings would net his fifth of the night at 3:56 in the period to put Philadelphia up 10-4. Rochester would then get the momentum shift in their favor as they would go on a four goal run to make it a 10-8 game at the 9:20 mark of the period. Getting the Knighthawks run started would be Curtis Knight (1g, 3a) netting his score at the 4:33 mark of the period. It would be teammates Turner Evans (1g, 2a), Smith and Hoggarth tallying the other three for the Knighthawks. As both teams battled back and forth in the final minutes the Wings were able to sneak two more in the frame with McIntosh notching his hat-trick at 10:39 and Small with the penalty shot on Rule 56.8 putting up the sock-trick at 13:48. That was it as Rochester wasn’t able to find the back of the net for the last one minute and change giving Philadelphia a much needed win in the Eastern Division. Final Score: Wings 12—Rochester 8.
Net-minder Joel Watson (0-3) would get an assist on the night for his first NLL point; and newly acquired Lukas Coote would make his Rochester debut with 1:59 in the contest facing one shot.
STATS:
Philadelphia Wings—SOG 51; Saves 48; Face-offs 18-24; Assists 18; LB 79; PP 6-8
Rochester Knighthawks—SOG 56; Saves 39; Face-offs 6-24; Assists 10; LB 74; PP 2-3
NEXT UP:
The Rochester Knighthawks (3-10) head out on the road and will travel to the ScotiaBank Centre to take on the Halifax Thunderbirds (8-4) on Friday April 1, game time 6:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can watch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Philadelphia Wings (6-7) will head to Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum to take on the New York Riptide (4-8) on Friday April 1, game time 8:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can watch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the action on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Christopher Crane, Rochester Knighthawks Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©