Sunday night, down at the Wells Fargo Center was a primetime battle between two franchises that were hungry for NLL playoffs. Rochester Knighthawks seeking revenge from two weeks ago, when the Philadelphia Wings beat the Knighthawks in their house. Teamwork is the name of the game for Philadelphia.
First Quarter Action
Ben McIntosh sets the tone of the game by finding the back of the net. Sluggish start for the Wings on defense. Look to have been some miscommunications. Knighthawks, Connor Fields saw the Wings’ defensive issues and took his opportunity to take advantage. It was a back-and-forth offensive showdown between both teams early. The Wings had good ball movement. Joe Resetarits lands an amazing goal.
The Wings struggled to get their own rebounds, which made plenty of opportunities for the Knighthawks. Again Connor Fields front an outside shot, just beating his defender and adding another goal on the day. The Knighthawks would also throw out a part of their offensive playbook. Screenplays made it hard for the Wings to adapt to on defense. Holden Cattoni would find a way to make a goal through traffic.
However, the teamwork continues. Philly would get a lot of depth help. Isaiah Davis-Allen would cause a turnover and land the breakaway goal. Shortly after that goal, Chad Tutton would join the goal-scoring fun.
2nd Quarter Brings Adjustments
Wings bench bosses making their defensive adjustments to the KnightHawks schemes. However, Ryan Smith would find his niche by going for a fake pass and driving the ball in for a goal. Ben McIntosh makes a pass to Joe Resetarits over two defenders then Joe Resetarits polishes off a goal. The Wings continue to flash the teamwork mentality.
The Knighthawks play a lot of double coverage on the outside which left a lot of the middle open. Taite Cattoni made a pass to Ben McIntosh through two defenders and Ben McIntosh would make a goal. Connor Fields is just being a playmaker for the Knighthawks when he records his hat trick of the game with a quick wrist shot that finds the back of the net.
Taite Cattoni answered right back with a goal of his own. Matt Gilray would go behind the net for his first wrap-around goal of the night. Ryland Rees also made a goal to help contribute to the Knighthawks on the scoreboard. Taite Cattoni would benefit from the powerplay.
Setting the Tone in the 3rd Quarter
Mitch Jones set the tone for the second half by putting up back-to-back goals. One was on a turnover break away and the other was him just getting aggressive and cutting through the Knighthawks’ defense.
This is where the set screenplay worked as Ryan Smith found Parker Pipher open for a goal. The man on a Mission, Mitch Jones finds his dynamic duo partner Joe Resetarits open for a goal. Ethan Schott slashes Ben McIntosh at the end of the quarter
Teamwork in the Final Minutes
The fourth quarter becomes a rollercoaster ride. Wings start off with a power play and Blaze Riorden gets a nice crisp pass from Joe Resetarits and blasts a goal in front of the net. The Wings go up 12 to 8 on the Knighthawks however this is where it gets sloppy. The Knighthawks would score 5 unanswered goals.
Matt Bennett makes a pass in transition to Holden Cattoni. They set a screen and it pays off dividends when Ryan Smith finds Austin Hasen open for a goal. Ryan Smith adds a wrap-around goal. Connor Fields was found open and he then drove the ball to the net. Ryan Smith with another back door goal, recording his hat trick of the game. The unsung hero Taite Cattoni would tie it up, getting an assist from Mitch Jones. On to overtime. Mitch Jones makes a tight pass to Joe Resetarits as he goes through two defenders and makes a goal for a Philly victory! With the win and Halifax Thunderbirds losing to the Georgia Swarm, this puts Philadelphia Wings tied for that last playoff spot in the east.
Key Notes
- This is Knighthawks’ third straight loss
- Mitch Jones gets his 200th goal through the course of the game
- Mitch Jones goes 2 goals and 5 assists
- Joe Resetarits 4 goals and 3 assists
- Taite Cattoni 3 goals and 2 assists
- Zach Higgins made 42 saves out of 55 shots
Pat Bernard has four years of podcasting. His first year with the Pattison Ave Phantics and four years running Devereaux Sports. Now currently, both Devereaux Sports and Edge of Sports. Pat is a for 6 Philly sports fan. Flyers, Phillies, Eagles, Sixers, Wings, and Union. The Gobbler is a former pro wrestler and ACPW Hall of Famer! He is originally out of Ambler from Northeast Philly (by the Tacony Bridge). Pat is a credentialed Philadelphia Wings Beat Reported under Edge of Philly Sports.
