The Red-hot Calgary Roughnecks (9-8) riding a five game win streak, went into the Blue Cross Arena to challenge the 4-14 Rochester Knighthawks, losers of eight straight.
The Knighthawks dominated the second half en route to an eye opening, 15-7 victory.
Kevin M. Neibauer LaxPhilly– A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network.
To the Game
The Rochester defense frustrated Calgary the entire night with their ability to keep the Riggers on the perimeter all evening
Rochester netminder, Joel Watson resembled Bob Watson with several tremendous stops among his 43 saves.
Calgary, forcing many shots, were off target on a consistent basis throughout
Despite that, Jesse King (2g,3a) opened the scoring when he buried a set up from Curtis Dickson on the first of the evening at 2:50.
The remainder of the quarter was a “You Score, We Score” battle.
Ryan Smith (4g) off a Charlie Bertrand (3a) set up, tied it at 6:23.
Zach Herreweyers (2g,1a) reinstituted the Calgary lead off a Jesse King and Curtis Dickson pass around.
Mike Burke (2g,1a) for Rochester followed by Tyler Pace (3 helpers) and Dickson setting up Dan Taylor (1g) off a beautiful passing play after a Calgary time out at the buzzer, ended the half with Calgary in front, 3-2.
To the Second
The offenses…well, the Rochester offense took over with a 6-1 quarter.
Tyler Biles (1g,1a), Matthew Bennett (1g,1a), Curtis Knight (3g,1a) and a second from Knight on the advantage, gave Rochester a 6-3 edge.
Curtis Dickson (2g,5a) stopped the run at 12:20 but, Knight and Holden Cattoni (1g,3a) countered to end the half with an 8-4 Rochester lead.
Third Quarter
The teams seemed to need to catch their breath and a miniscule quarter revealed a pair of goals with one going each way.
King and Dickson were in a giving move for the second Herreweyers marker.
Thomas Whitty (3a) did the work for a Burke goal that close the third with a 9-5 Rochester advantage.
Fourth Quarter..
Things opened back up offensively with a total of 8 goals.
Rochester took the game with five goals that came from, Smith, with a natural hat trick (3:30, 5:36 and 7:24). a a single from Mitch Ogilvie.
Calgary fought back thanks to Dickson to make it 13-7.
Thomas Hoggarth scored at 12:47 and 13:09 to end the scoring.
“I didn’t like first half. One of the keys to the game was start on time. We don’t want to chase the game. We know it’s tough building to play in, tough travel. I think the big thing for us is that we’re just doing the little things we’ve been doing to make us successful and just the hustle plays, we weren’t doing them in the first half and then when you’re down 8-4 you’re chasing the game.”
“Our power play was really good, but the effort that we had over the last five games and the commitment to doing the little things, the commitment to doing the intangibles and the commitment to just (having) sheer will to win and compete, we didn’t have it tonight. Whether that’s we’ve already clinched and you’re a letting a little bit of air out or whether it’s just feeling good about what you’ve done and not realizing that it took a lot of effort to get where it got you.”
“That just wasn’t our night tonight. We have to have a short memory real quick because we have like a playoff game at home (next Saturday). You’re battling for home floor in the playoffs. The last thing you want to do is go 0-2 into the playoffs.” Calgary Coach, Curt Malawsky
Notes:
• Smith has multiple goals in nine of eleven games.
• Christian Del Bianco turned aside 32 of 47 Rochester shots.
• Joel “Not Bob” Watson flat out stole this game with 43 saves.
• Tyler Biles went 10 of 18 from the dot,
• Loose balls showed a 78-74 Rochester edge.
Rochester with the upset.
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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