Knighthawks Exact Revenge On Halifax In Rematch

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Photo Credit: James Bennett (www.jbphotos.ca); Photo courtesy of the National Lacrosse League

“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk – Senior Correspondent, All Lacrosse All The Time

The Rochester Knighthawks and Halifax Thunderbirds squared off at ScotiaBank Centre Saturday night in a rematch from last week. Halifax was looking to sweep the home-and-home after a buzzer beater from Clarke Petterson gave them a 19-18 win in an instant classic. Meanwhile, Rochester was trying to avoid being the first team to six losses on the season. The Knighthawks overcame an 8-5 deficit in the fourth quarter to win 10-9, improving to 3-5 on the year. They host Colorado in Week 9. The Thunderbirds fall to 2-4 with the loss, splitting the season series with Rochester; they have a bye next week before hosting Vancouver in Week 10.

Knighthawks

Rookie Piseno nets first career goal for Knighthawks

Halifax got off to a 2-0 lead on quick goals from Mike Robinson (1:27) and Clarke Petterson (2:32). The Knighthawks responded with a run of their own, starting with Chad Tutton scoring in transition (6:14). Connor Fields (8:01) and Ryan Smith (12:45) followed with even strength goals for a 3-2 lead after one quarter.

Randy Staats (6:15 second quarter) tied the game for Halifax. 2023 second round draft pick Jake Piseno then scored his first career NLL goal (9:01 power play) to briefly restore the Knighthawks’ lead. But Staats would score his second on a power play (12:21) to level the game at 4-4 going into halftime.

Big fourth quarter gives Knighthawks win and series split

Halifax came out on fire in the third quarter, outscoring the Knighthawks 4-1 for an 8-5 lead. The Thunderbirds got markers from Robinson (1:13), Staats (1:57), Cody Jamieson (11:56 power play), and Petterson (12:27). Fields scored his second (10:27) for the lone Rochester goal of the frame.

The Knighthawks responded in the fourth quarter, outscoring Halifax 5-1 for the narrow victory. Turner Evans (1:20) started the comeback before Fields went back-to-back (5:38; 6:23) to tie the game at 8. Colton Armstrong took a feed from goaltender Warren Hill and buried it in transition (7:35) to restore a 9-8 Halifax lead. However, Thomas McConvey tied the game again on a power play (9:46), and Smith’s second (10:45) gave the Knighthawks the lead for good.

Other Stats of Note

Fields finished with four goals and two assists. Ryan Smith had two goals, one assist, and Ryan Lanchbury added four assists. Rochester goaltender Riley Hutchcraft made 43 saves in the game, with 14 coming in the fourth quarter, and four of those in the final 30 seconds of the game.

Halifax won 13 of 23 faceoffs and went 2 for 5 on the power play; Rochester was 2 for 4 with the man advantage. Staats had a hat trick and two assists for the Thunderbirds. Thomas Hoggarth chipped in with three assists. Armstrong had four Caused Turnovers, Ryan Terefenko led all players with nine Loose Balls, and Warren Hill made 47 saves in the losing effort.

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