An old axiom dictates that you never leave a game early and never has there been a better example than the Vancouver Warriors (4-5) besting the Rochester Knighthawks (1-7) in what proved to be a classic.
With just 2:06 remaining, Jordan McBride teamed up to assist Mitch Jones (4g,5a) on the man up to get it knotted at 9-9.
Darryl Robertson was whistled for Checking from Behind at 12:33 and the Warriors were in prime shape to salt this one away.
Turner Evans (2g) had a different idea and lit the lamp with just :54 remaining and Rochester seemed to have stolen a game.
With just five seconds to play, Mitch Jones knotted it up to take the affair to extra time.
With just 2:47 played, Jones connected off a Keegan Bal pass to give the Warriors their third win in four games.
It was a bit of a journey to the climax.
Holden Cattoni set up Shawn Evans (2g,4a) followed by Dan Lintner (2a) and Shawn Evans returning the favor with Cattoni (2g,6a) to push it to 2-0.
Evans and Cattoni went back to work, setting up Cory Highfield (1g,1a) on yer another man up and Rochester was cruising with a 3-0 lead with just 8:22 played.
At 9:27 and 10:14, Vancouver showed why are named Warriors and Joel McCready (4g,1a) followed by Keegan Bal (2g,3a) took away the Home team Thunder to close it to 3-2.
Curtis Knight (2a) and the other Evans, Turner (1a) aided Cattoni to end the first with the K’Hawks up, 4-2.
The second stanza revealed a chess match with Phil Caputo (4g), McCready, Caputo again and Riley Loewen (1g,1a) with a beautiful spin a Rama goal made it 6-4 for Rochester.
Shawn Evans nailed his 444th NLL goal and Caputo matched to boost the home team to an 8-4 edge.
The Rochester offense became moribund and Vancouver battled, starting with McBride finding Mitch Jones (4g,5a) to end the Rochester rally and Bal converted on the power play to end the half, 8-6.
After all the fireworks, only McCready could hit paydirt in the third and the adversaries went to the final stanza with a one-goal differential.
Finally, after a 24:07 scoreless drought, Caputo hit a rope to push it to a two-goal edge.
McCready and Jones shook that off and got it evened at 9-9 and the drama was building.
Dis and Dat: shots on goal favored the Warriors, 54-43. Rochester took custody of loose balls, 88-77 while Bob Snider won 17 of 25 face-offs.
Eric Penney turned aside 33 of 43 Rochester shots and counterpart, Rylan Hartley nearly matched with 34 saves off 54 attempts.
The special teams were the story as the Warriors were 3 for 3 and The ‘Hawks went 3 of 4 and each squad secured a man goal tally.
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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