The Armory relied on a three-goal run in the final three minutes while also surviving a late push from the Buffaloes to pull out a gritty 15-14 win Wednesday at Genesee Valley Sports Complex.
Armory’s win was led by a breakout seven-point performance from Lukas Stanat (4+3). The trio of Casey McDermott (4+0), Tyler Goode (1+4), and Stanat really took care of business in the first three quarters while William Dempsey was a brick wall in net throughout the game.
The first quarter was more physical in nature, with both teams playing a man-to-man defense and containing the other with one goal apiece until the last three minutes. Goode set-up Alex Constable on the power-play and less than a minute later Mark Henderson (2+0) created a goal for himself to boost the Armory to a 3-1 lead heading into the second quarter.
ROCHESTER, New York, USA – JULY 6: Buffalo Buffaloes v Rochester Armory July 6, 2022 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/ UCBLL)
The momentum rolled into the second for the Armory. Stanat scored his first from behind the goal just two minutes into the frame that was followed by his second just three minutes later. The Buffaloes fired back but to no avail, as Stanat led the Armory on a 3-0 run into the half.
The second half started, and no momentum remained for the Armory, as a three-goal run by the Buffaloes brought some life, but they were still down by three goals. The Armory pulled back with three more goals in the period led by two assists from Goode. They headed into the final frame leading 12-8.
The Buffaloes came out like they had something to lose but the Armory never truly stressed despite the one-goal victory. Stanat scored his final goal in the first minute only to see the Buffaloes respond a minute later as Welyon Abrams scored his third goal.
ROCHESTER, New York, USA – JULY 6: Buffalo Buffaloes v Rochester Armory July 6, 2022 in Rochester, New York. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu/ UCBLL)
Goode finally found the back of the net for his fifth point of the night. In the final seven minutes, the Buffaloes went on a 5-1 run that ran down to 28 seconds remaining in the game, but the Armory were able to hold on for a 15-14 win.
The same two teams square off again on Monday, July 11 as the action shifts to Buffalo for a rematch at KeyBank Center. Game time is slated for an 8:00 p.m. start.