Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
Albany Stuns the Defending Champs 11-10 (OT) in a Thrilling Rematch
The Battle of I-90 continues to deliver! On Saturday, March 22nd, the Albany FireWolves (6-9) played host to the two-time defending National Lacrosse League (NLL) champion Buffalo Bandits (11-3) in a highly anticipated finals rematch. And what a rematch it was.
Just one week removed from a historic crowd at MVP Arena, the FireWolves did it again, welcoming an impressive 6,724 fans—the largest attendance in franchise history. As the arena filled, dueling chants between the FireWolves faithful and the ever-traveling Banditland set the stage for an electric showdown.
Fast Start in Albany
The Bandits wasted no time asserting themselves, striking just 47 seconds into the game with a goal from Chase Fraser. However, Albany quickly responded, as Tye Kurtz found the back of the net just 10 seconds later, setting the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
Kurtz wasn’t done yet, adding his second goal just two minutes later to give Albany an early lead. But as expected in a matchup of this caliber, no lead was safe. Before the end of the first quarter, Dhane Smith capitalized on a pinpoint pass from Josh Byrne, putting Buffalo ahead once again.
Bandits Apply the Pressure
As the second quarter began, the FireWolves found themselves battling against relentless Buffalo pressure. The Bandits dictated play on both ends, making Albany fight for every inch.
Despite the challenge, Albany managed to stay neck-and-neck with Buffalo. However, with 10 minutes left in the half, the Bandits began to break through. Goals from Nick Weiss and Chris Cloutier before halftime gave Buffalo a narrow lead in an already intense matchup.
FireWolves Fight Back
Coming out of the halftime break, Albany knew they needed a spark. The FireWolves emerged with newfound energy, determined to match Buffalo’s physicality.
Although the Bandits continued to dominate in offensive zone time, Albany refused to let them pull away. Instead, the FireWolves surged back with three unanswered goals, courtesy of Jonathan Peshko, Alex Simmons, and Ethan Walker.
With their offense clicking and their defense tightening up, Albany entered the fourth quarter with a lead, thanks in large part to goaltender Doug Jamieson. The FireWolves netminder was nothing short of sensational, stopping 57 of 67 shots on his way to a career-high in saves.
Late Drama and Overtime Heroics
As the fourth quarter began, Buffalo turned up the intensity. Led by Byrne and Smith, the Bandits clawed their way back, eventually tying the game at 10-10 with under two minutes left.
Albany had one last opportunity in regulation, but Bandits goalie Matt Vinc stood tall, forcing overtime.
Overtime was a high-stakes, high-speed battle, with both teams generating quality chances. Albany’s defense held strong, and Jamieson made a massive breakaway save to keep the FireWolves alive.
Then, in dramatic fashion, with the shot clock winding down, Kurtz fired a shot wide. But Kyle Jackson pounced on the loose ball, quickly feeding rookie Dyson Williams, who spotted a tiny opening and buried a highlight-reel behind-the-back goal past Vinc for the game-winner.
The crowd erupted as the FireWolves secured their biggest win of the season, keeping their playoff hopes alive in thrilling fashion.
Key Performers
Albany FireWolves:
- Dyson Williams – 3 goals (including the game-winner), 1 assist
- Tye Kurtz – 2 goals, 4 assists
- Alex Simmons – 2 goals, 2 assists
- Ethan Walker – 2 goals, 2 assists
- Kyle Jackson – 4 assists
- Jonathan Peshko – 2 goals, 1 assist
- Doug Jamieson – 57 saves on 67 shots
Buffalo Bandits:
- Dhane Smith – 2 goals, 4 assists
- Josh Byrne – 1 goal, 6 assists
- Chase Fraser – 2 goals, 2 assists
- Ian MacKay – 2 goals
- Chris Cloutier – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Nick Weiss – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Matt Vinc – 45 saves on 56 shots
Playoff Race Heats Up
With the victory, Albany keeps its postseason dreams alive as they continue battling for one of the final playoff spots. The FireWolves will get a much-needed bye week before returning to action against the Vancouver Warriors on April 4.
For Buffalo, the loss is a tough setback, but they remain at the top of the playoff race. The Bandits will look to regroup as the regular season nears its conclusion.
This overtime thriller proved one thing: the FireWolves won’t go down without a fight. With momentum on their side, Albany is determined to finish the season strong and keep their championship aspirations alive.