Matthews Late Goal Sends Rock To Victory

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Gary Groob

Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media. An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to "grow the game", Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history. Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse, Ontario Series Lacrosse, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, CUFLA, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them. In the year 2019, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page "Global Lacrosse" with a membership of 14,000+ members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022 with a membership of 19,000+. Gary also has been the media person for Ontario Series Lacrosse (Senior B) since 2023. Mr. Groob also covers the Green Gaels for their excursions to Prague at the Ales Hrebesky tournament since 2022. In 2024, when Major Series Lacrosse was in need of a media person, Gary stepped in as their interim media person. His tasks were running their social media, as well as their website until a full time person was found to fill the role. In 2025 Gary was voted onto the Board of Directors for Ontario Series Lacrosse. Mr. Groob hosts a weekly lacrosse interview show formerly on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, now on StreamPunkEnt.com, Youtube, as well as Spotify. Groob also hosts a lacrosse talk show and podcast for All Lacrosse All The Time seen live Sunday nights at 8pm (ET), and archived on the All Lacrosse All The Time YouTube page, as well as Spotify. Gary also wrote a weekly lacrosse editorial column for La Portada Canada News both in print and online for three years from 2021-2024. In 2025, Mr. Groob joined the ownership ranks, becoming a minority owner of StreamPunk Entertainment, ensuring Lacrosse will always have voice in media. Mr. Groob's other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.

(Photos courtesy of Michelle Veluvolu NLL)

The Toronto Rock (3-2) visited the Rochester Knighthawks (4-2) Saturday night in NLL action at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, NY.

Both teams were coming off big wins last week.  For the Rock, CJ Kirst led the way with 5 goals in the victory, while the Rock defense was stingy just allowing seven goals on the evening.  Rochester won two games last week.  They beat the Wings in Philadelphia, followed by beating the Buffalo Bandits at home the next night.  Connor Fields, Zed Williams, Ryan Smith and Thomas McConvey have led this powerhouse so far this season.

The goaltending match-up had Nick Rose in net for the Rock facing Rylan Hartley in net for the Knighthawks.

Rochester’s own, and Toronto Blue Jays star infielder Ernie Clement was honored before the game.

(Photo courtesy of Michelle Veluvolu NLL)

The first quarter was an exciting back and forth event yielding only one goal.  While both teams had chances, only Thomas McConvey found twine as the quarter ended 1-0 Knighthawks. 

Although the Rock tied the game on a CJ Kirst blast, the Knighthawks kept the pressure on, eventually getting on a four goal run.  Connor Fields led Rochester with a hat-trick in the frame to send the Knighthawks to the half up 6-2.

The second half saw the Rock chip away at the Knighthawks lead, led by Owen Hiltz with a second half hat-trick, and Mark Matthews with a pair of second half goals. 

In the third quarter  Toronto goalie Nick Rose went down with an injury which put Troy Holowchuk in goal.   Holowchuk was nothing less than exceptional only getting beat a few times in aost a full half of play, allowing his team to work their way back in the game.

In the final minute, with the game tied 10-10, Mark Matthews found an empty lane to the net, making no mistake.  This turned out to be the game winner, as the Rock come from behind for an 11-10 victory.

To The Game:

The Knighthawks got on the board first when Thomas McConvey blasted a shot from the outside off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 2:27.

Although the action went end to end the rest of the quarter, both defenses stood tall.  Rylan Hartley was superb in the Knighthawks net, shutting down the Rock offense entirely.

After one quarter, Rochester 1 Toronto 0.

Second Quarter:

The Rock got on the board to start the second when CJ Kirst finished an Owen Hiltz pass from in front at 1:16 to tie the game. 

Rochester got back on track with back to back goals from Connor Fields. The first was off a Ryan Lanchbury pass at 2:38 to regain the lead from in close, then on a delayed penalty with an outside shot again off a Lanchbury pass at 3:20.

The Knighthawks increased their lead when Lanchbury himself blasted a laser off a Kyle Waters pass at 5:56, followed by a sidearm snipe from the outside by Connor Fields off a Ryan Smith pass at 8:36.

The Rock stopped the four goal run when Dan Craig scored from the top of the crease off a Mark Matthews pass at 10:45, but the Knighthawks came back again this time shorthanded.  Ryan Smith scored with just 5.1 seconds remaining in the half finishing a Zed Williams pass from in front.

At the half, Rochester 6 Toronto 2.

Mammoth

Third Quarter:

Toronto opened the third quarter scoring when Mark Matthews finished a Challen Rogers feed shorthanded at 6:04, followed by Dan Craig blasting a Matthews pass 0:50 seconds later from the outside to bring the Rock within two goals.

Rochester got back on track when Graydon Hogg scored from in close off a Ryan Smith pass at 7:19.  On the play Nick Rose was shaken up and replaced by Troy Holowchuk. 

Toronto narrowed the gap to two goals once again when Owen Hiltz scored off a quick stick from CJ Kirst at 11:47.

After three quarters, Rochester 7 Toronto 5.

Fourth Quarter:

Chris Boushy brought the Rock within one on a great individual effort diving from behind the net off a Challen Rogers pass at 1:24, but Thomas McConvey scored his second of the night from in close off a Kyle Waters pass at 3:01 to again restore the two goal lead.

Hugh Kelleher brought the Rock within one with a laser to the corner in transition at 6:08, followed by a blast from Sam English to tie the game 0:28 seconds later of a Josh Jubenville feed.  Toronto took their first lead of the night when Owen Hiltz fired a low to low shot off a Challen Rogers pass at 6:57.

The Knighthawks would tie the game on the power-play when Ryan Lanchbury converted a Ryan Smith pass at 9:21, followed by Connor Fields scoring off a Kyle Waters pass to re-take the lead at 9:58.

Toronto put together a flurry in the final minutes.  Owen Hiltz scored with a high to high blast unassisted at 10:42 to tie the game, then with just 0:58 seconds remaining, Mark Matthews took a clear route to the net making no mistake with a low shot to the far side for the game winner.

Final score, Toronto 11 Rochester 10.

The Three Stars:

1. Owen Hiltz
2. Connor Fields
3. Mark Matthews

Game Stats:

  • Shots on goal favored Rochester 58-46.
  • The faceoff battle went to the Knighthawks 16-9.
  • The Knighthawks edged the Rock in the loose ball battle 85-81.
  • Toronto went 1 for 3 on the power-play, scoring a shorthanded goal.
  • Rochester went 1 for 4 on the power-play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.

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