
Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
The Streak Continues! On Saturday, January 18th the Buffalo Bandits (5-0) played host to the Philadelphia Wings (5-2) in front of 17,500 passionate and strong in a rocking Bandit Land, and with the crowd behind them like always, the Bandits were able to win their fifth straight 19-14.
First Half Dominance:
Josh Byrne got the Bandits started, scoring twice in the first quarter. The opening frame was uneventful overall, with only four goals scored, and the Bandits holding a 3-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
However, the second quarter was a completely different story. The Bandits dominated with a quick five-goal run in just three minutes, propelling themselves to a seven-goal lead only five minutes into the quarter. The Wings made attempts to push back, but Buffalo’s offense continued to shine, adding 10 goals in the quarter to go into halftime with a commanding 13-5 lead.
Josh Byrne, who initiated the offense in the first quarter, kept the momentum going in the second, scoring four more goals and adding two assists. His outstanding performance earned him a ‘Sock Trick’ (six goals) before halftime.

Wings’ Resilient Comeback:
While the first half was all Buffalo, the second half saw a much more competitive contest. Chase Fraser got the Bandits on the board first in the third quarter, but the Wings started to show life shortly after. Holden Cattoni, who scored his first of three goals four minutes into the quarter, sparked a comeback.
The Wings remained scoreless for the first five minutes of the third but managed to keep Buffalo off the scoreboard for nearly 10 minutes. As the quarter wound down, the scoring picked up. Both teams combined for six goals in the final five minutes of the third, with the Wings ending on a six-goal run. This impressive stretch brought them within three goals, trailing 16-13 heading into the fourth quarter.
Closing Out the Game:
With the Wings surging, Buffalo needed an answer in the fourth, and Ian MacKay delivered. His early goal shifted the momentum back to the Bandits, who locked down defensively and limited the Wings to just one goal in the final quarter.
Offensively, Tehoka Nanticoke and Chris Cloutier scored within a minute of each other to seal the victory for Buffalo. The Bandits’ ability to respond under pressure showcased their championship-caliber resilience.
Key Performers:
Buffalo Bandits:
The Bandits were led on the backs of Josh Byrne (7g, 5a) and Dhane Smith (1g, 9a) who both reached double digit point totals on the night and continue to prove why either one of them will win MVP this season. Following them was Chase Fraser (3g, 4a) who was able to add seven points of his own, including the goal that would eventually be the winning goal. Ian MacKay (2g, 0a) and Chris Cloutier (2g, 2a) both added two goals while Tehoka Nanticoke (1g, 1a), Steve Priolo (1g 0a), Paul Dawson (1g,0a), and Cam Wyers (1g, 1a) rounded out the scoring, all adding a goal each.
Philadelphia Wings:
Despite the loss the Wings are still in a great spot. Sitting second in the league and made a major fight against the defending champions. Leading the way was Joe Resetarits (2g, 6a) who was able to put up eight points in the loss. Following him in scoring was Holden Cattoni (3g, 5a) who also added eight points of his own, but also adding a hat trick. Cattoni wasn’t the only Wing with a hat trick as Sam LeClair (3g, 0a) also added three goals of his own. Mitch Jones (2g, 5a) was able to be a helper on the night just like Resetarits, adding five assists and ending the night with seven points. Rounding out the scoring was Blaze Riorden (2g, 2a) and Phil Caputo (2g, 1a) who both added two goals on the night.
Looking Ahead:
The Bandits remain atop the league standings with their high-powered offense and solid defense. They’ll look to extend their streak in two weeks when they host the Albany FireWolves in a rematch of last year’s NLL Finals.
The Wings, despite the loss, showcased their potential with a spirited comeback. They aim to bounce back in two weeks as they welcome the Rochester Knighthawks to Philadelphia.