Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Albany Firewolves (1-2) hosted the Calgary Roughnecks (2-0) on Saturday night at MVP Arena in the capital of New York. Last season these two met for an unbelievable game that saw the Firewolves come back and steal the game in overtime. For this matchup, they had control of the game until Dane Dobbie (8G) found the hottest of hot streaks in the fourth quarter. Dobbie scored eight straight goals for the visiting Roughnecks, seven in the fourth quarter, and the final goal to seal the win in overtime. Despite hat tricks from Tye Kurtz (3G, 3A) and Ethan Walker (3G, 3A) and a four-goal deficit with 11:36 left in the game, Dobbie just could not be stopped late. His seven goals in the fourth quarter is a new NLL record for most goals scored in a quarter. Final Score: Calgary-13, Albany-12
The first quarter started very well for the Firewolves, much to the applause of the home fans. Kurtz broke the scoreless tie 1:29 into the game with his first goal of the night. Just under a minute later though Calgary answered. Mathieu Gautier (1G, 1A) picked up a juicy rebound off a bounce, stepped to the middle and fired the ball past Doug Jamieson (35SV). John Piatelli (2G) put the Firewolves ahead again before Kurtz scored his second of the quarter, extending the lead to two. Curtis Dickson (2G, 4A) struck next on a powerplay opportunity, but Walker closed the quarter with two unanswered, giving Albany a three-goal lead at the end of the first quarter. At the end of the first, Albany led Calgary 5-2.
After a seven-goal first quarter, only six goals were scored between the second and third quarters as the defenses and goalies really clamped down. Trading goals back and forth, the Firewolves were able to keep control of the game. Tanner Cook (2G, 3A) found the net first, 5:30 into the second quarter, cutting the deficit to two with a power play goal. Dyson Williams (2G, 1A) answered for Albany under a minute later, but Dickson found the net with 3:14 remaining to give the second quarter edge to Calgary. At halftime, Albany led Calgary 6-4.
Scoring didn’t come quick in the third quarter either. Sam Firth (1G, 3A) finally ended the drought 7:07 into the frame, extending the Albany lead back to three, but Cook scored on a powerplay with 4:20 left to keep Calgary within striking distance. Walker was the hero late in the quarter again. With 1:46 left, he completed his hat trick with a bounce shot from the middle after coming around a great set of screens. At the end of the third quarter, Albany led Calgary 8-5.
Will Johansen (1G) stretched the Albany lead to four goals just nine seconds into the fourth. Dobbie, held without a goal or assist until this point in the game, scored his first goal of the night on a power play just 25 seconds later. In an almost palpable essence, even for the ESPN+ viewers, Dobbie’s reaction to the goal seemed to release something magical. Piatelli answered for Albany, scoring with 11:36 left in the game and bringing the score to 10-6. What followed was a streak for the record books. Dobbie scored four unanswered goals every which way. Around a screen high to high, step back low to low; Albany just could not stop his singular momentum. Every time the ball was in his stick, it felt like a predetermined goal. With 3:28 remaining, Dobbie’s fifth goal of the quarter tied the game 10-10. Kurtz scored his third goal of the game after Walker found him open in the middle of the zone with 2:39 remaining and the home team was back ahead. But Dobbie was not done. With 1:46 remaining, he planted his right foot at the top of the offensive zone and sniped a corner for his fourth quarter sock trick. Keeping cool and collected, Albany won the ensuing faceoff and Williams quick sticked a goal past Cam MacLeod (41SV) for another Albany one-goal lead. On the next Calgary chance, Dobbie flew out of the bench streaking down the floor where MacLeod found him with a spectacular outlet. Dobbie dove into the crease, and scored his seventh goal, breaking an NLL record for goals in a quarter and tying the game 12-12 with 49 seconds left. In disbelief, both teams prepared for another overtime thriller. At the end of the fourth quarter, Calgary and Albany were tied 12-12.
Overtime ended in just 50 seconds. Albany could not score on the first possession and after a quick Calgary clear, Dobbie found himself open cutting near the crease. Dickson found him and after a couple running dekes, Dobbie scored his eighth straight goal for Calgary. Final Score: Calgary-13, Albany-12.
Up Next:
The Albany Firewolves (1-2) have a bye week before travelling to play the Halifax Thunderbirds (0-2) on Saturday, December 28 at 6:00 PM EST.
The Calgary Roughnecks (2-0) have a bye week before hosting the Vancouver Warriors (1-1) on Saturday, December 28 at 9:00 PM EST.