
Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
It’s Goals Galore!! On Saturday night, the Colorado Mammoth (5-3) traveled to Blue Cross Arena to face the Rochester Knighthawks (3-6) in a match up that had it all. From dueling goals and lead changes throughout the contest to a goalie duel in multiple quarters, the game culminated in a dramatic game-winning goal with just three seconds left on the clock.
The Back-And-Forth Battle
The game began with a defensive standoff, as both teams fought to establish momentum. Mammoth goalie Dillon Ward and Knighthawks net minder Riley Hutchcraft came up big early, making critical saves to keep the score locked. Six minutes in, Will Malcom broke the deadlock, scoring the first of his four points on the night to put the Mammoth ahead. Rochester’s Ryan Smith responded just two minutes later, tying the game at 1-1. The defensive battle continued until the final seconds of the first quarter where Eli McLaughlin would score his first of four goals with just eight seconds remaining, giving Colorado a 2-1 lead.

As the second got started it took McLaughlin two minutes to give the Mammoth a two goal lead, but yet again it would only take the Knighthawks around two minutes to answer back as Thomas McConvey would get the Knighthawks right back in it, followed with two goals by Ryan Lanchbury to tie this contest back up. Colorado responded with two quick goals of their own before halftime, reclaiming a narrow lead.
Knighthawks Third Quarter Surge

The Knighthawks came out firing in the third quarter, dominating the frame by scoring three of the first four goals. Contributions came from Kyle Waters and Ian Llord, whose goal was a rare but timely addition to the score sheet. Thanks to a combination of explosive goals when they mattered, a relentless defensive effort and stellar goal tending yet again from Riley Hutchcraft, the Knighthawks would find themselves going into the forth with a 9-7 lead.
Late Game Drama
Despite the Knighthawks’ strong third quarter, the Mammoth were determined to claw their way back. Dillon Ward stepped up in the fourth, allowing just one goal and making several key stops. Tim Edwards narrowed the gap eight minutes into the quarter, while McLaughlin completed his four-goal performance and put the Mammoth within one, while Malcom would tie the game up to complete his hat trick performance. With the game seemingly heading to overtime, Zed Williams delivered the decisive blow, scoring with just three seconds remaining to secure a dramatic 11-10 victory for the Mammoth.
Key Performers
Colorado Mammoth:
The Mammoth victory came on the back of two hat tricks for the team, those coming from Will Malcom (3g, 1a) and Eli McLaughlin (4g, 1a). While it was Malcom and McLaughlin leading the offensive way, Ryan Lee (0g, 6a) and Connor Kelly (1g, 3a) lead the team in helpers for the game. While Zed Williams, Owen Rahn and Tim Edwards all rounded out the scoring, each adding a goal.
Rochester Knighthawks:
The Knighthawks lose despite seeing contribution from all over the score sheet. Leading the way was Connor Fields (1g, 7a) who was able to put up eight points in the loss. Ryan Lanchbury (2g, 4a), Thomas McConvey (2g, 2a) and Kyle Waters (2g, 0a) all added two goals of their own in the loss. While Curtis Knight (1g, 1a), Ian Llord (1a, 0a) and Ryan Smith (1g, 2a) all added a goal each to round out the scoring.
Looking Ahead

The loss marks the Knighthawks’ fourth consecutive defeat at home, dropping their season record to 3-6. This is the second time this season they’ve lost a game in the final three seconds, the first being against the Halifax Thunderbirds in Week 7. Rochester now embarks on a three-game road trip, starting with a showdown against the Philadelphia Wings on February 1.
The Mammoth, riding the momentum of this dramatic win, aim to climb higher in the NLL standings. Colorado will return home to host the surging Toronto Rock this weekend in what promises to be another thrilling match up.
This game showcased the grit and determination of both teams, but it was Colorado’s ability to execute under pressure that made the difference. Fans on both sides will undoubtedly circle a potential rematch on their calendars.