(Photos courtesy of the NLL & Colorado Mammoth)
The Rochester Knighthawks (2-1) faced the Colorado Mammoth (2-2) at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado.
Rochester has had a hot start in their first two games with Conoor Fields, Ryan Smith, Thomas McConvey, as well as Ryan Lanchbury having big starts. Colorado made news with the addition of Jack Hannah this week. With Andrew Kew still on the injured reserve, Hannah will fit in with Will Malcom, Ryan Lee, and Thomas Vela.
The goaltending match-up had Rylan Hartley for Rochester facing Dillon Ward for Colorado.
Rochester got off to a good start with Ryan Smith opening the scoring, but a four goal run for the Mammoth changed the complexion of the game. The Knighthawks roared back with Connor Fields and Ryan Lanchbury scoring a pair each to take a 5-4 lead after one.
In the second quarter, things unraveled for Rochester. Led by a Will Malcom hat-trick, the Mammoth rhymed off a seven goal run to take control of the game. Colorado led 11-6 at the half.
Thomas McConvey got the Knighthawks back in the game scoring a pair in the third quarter to get within three goals heading into the fourth.
Rochester kept pressing with Zed Williams, Ryan Smith, and Jake Piseno scoring to get within two goals midway through the fourth quarter. The Mammoth got back on track scoring four of the last five goals in the game. Colorado wins 18-13.
To The Game:
Ryan Smith opened up the scoring on the power-play off a Connor Fields pass at 3:46, but Jalen Chaster evened the score with a power-play blast of his own off a Dylan McIntosh feed at 7:08.
Jack Hannah gave the Mammoth the lead with back to back tallies. The first came just 0:29 seconds after the Chaster marker, followed by a highlight reel goal flying through the crease off a Jalen Chaster pass at 9:55.
Braedon Saris scored his first NLL goal finishing a Thomas Vela pass at 10:38 to increase the Mammoth lead.
In the final minute of the quarter, Ryan Lanchbury scored a pair just 0:27 seconds apart. Both goals were off Ryan Smith feeds to give Rochester the lead.
After one quarter, Rochester 5 Colorado 4.
Second Quarter:
The Mammoth exploded for seven unanswered goals in the second quarter. Ryan Lee finished a Chaster feed on the power-play at 2:41, followed by Will Malcom also finding the back of the net on the power-play off a Jack Hannah pass at 3:06.
Warren Jeffrey added to the lead with a great individual effort unassisted in transition at 4:56, followed by Malcom converting a Robert Hope pass at 5:29.
Braedon Saris then added his second of the game off a Thomas Vela pass at 10:05, followed by Will Malcom’s third goal of the quarter on the power-play off a Ryan Lee pass at 11:29 giving Colorado a 10-5 lead.
Thomas Vela added one more goal for the Mammoth before Ryan Lanchbury stopped the bleeding scoring off a Connor Fields pass at 14:40.
At the half, Colorado 11 Rochester 6.
Third Quarter:
Rochester got on track in the third with Thomas McConvey scoring unassisted just 0:35 seconds into the quarter, but Ryan Lee answered with a blast off a Will Malcom feed at 2:04.
The Knighthawks kept pressing with Ryan Lanchbury scoring off a Kyle Waters pass at 2:36, followed by Thomas McConvey finishing a Brad McCulley feed at 4:34.
After three quarters, Colorado 12 Rochester 9.
Fourth Quarter:
Dylan McIntosh got the Mammoth back on track just 0:33 seconds into the quarter followed by Will Malcom with a sidearm snipe off a Dylan Hess pass at 2:20.
The Knighthawks kept coming with Jake Piseno converting a Matt Gilray feed at 5:08, followed by Ryan Smith with a laser off a Connor Fields pass at 6:42. Zed Williams brought the Knighthawks within two goals blasting a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 6:59.
Thomas Vela got the Mammoth moving again scoring off a Jalen Chaster pass at 10:31, followed by Jordan Gillies in transition off a long lead pass from Dillon Ward at 12:35.
Thomas McConvey kept the Knighthawks close with an outside blast off a Ryan Lanchbury feed at 13:26, but late goals from Jalen Chaster and Matt Paolatto sealed the game for Colorado.
Final score, Colorado 18 Rochester 13.
The Three Stars:
1. Will Malcom
2. Ryan Lanchbury
3. Jack Hannah
Game Stats:
- Shots on goal favored the Knighthawks 57-43.
- The faceoff battle was won by the Mammoth 20-15.
- The loose ball battle went to Colorado 67-64.
- Rochester went 4 for 9 on the power-play.
- The Mammoth went 4 for 4 on the power-play.
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