Thanks to a massive third-quarter surge, the Armory moved to 4-2 as it took care of the Buffaloes 15-8 last night.
Tyler Goode led the way with a five-point effort (1+4), while Alec Constable (1+3) and Garyn John (3+1) collected four points each. Lukas Kucera was the man to execute in front of net. The Czech Republic native scored his first UCBLL hat trick in the win. Will Dempsey was only needed for three quarters as he made 24 saves and only allowed five goals.
It was a tale of two halves on Wednesday, as the first quarter ended tied at two. The Armory was the team that controlled the pace, as John scored the game’s first goal from the top of the key. However, the Buffaloes were able to find answers in transition.
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – JULY 12: UCBLL :: Armory v Buffaloes :: July 12, 2023 in Rochester, New York, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
Mark Belles scored the second Armory goal, creating an opportunity on an off-ball cut into the hole where he was able to receive a perfect pass from Goode. In the closing two minutes of the quarter, the Buffaloes found their transition legs again as Jake Echeverria scored a second chance opportunity in a three-on-one fast break to tie the game.
The second was more of the same. The Armory jumped back in front, but the Buffaloes transition offense kept them in it. Kucera scored two of his three for the Armory in the second, both from a step above the crease. He found the top right corner each time.
The third Armory goal came while shorthanded as Chace Cogan went in for a dunk from X. In the closing four minutes, the Buffaloes brought it within four as Austin Blumbergs scored their third transition goal of the day. The competition seemed to be present as both teams headed to the locker room.
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – JULY 12: UCBLL :: Armory v Buffaloes :: July 12, 2023 in Rochester, New York, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
The Armory shut the Buffaloes out for the first 10 minutes in the third quarter. In that time, they scored four goals and established a five-goal lead. Echeverria scored the lone Buffalo goal of the quarter, while the Armory had five goal scorers in the third. Constable opened things just after the first minute following a transition turnover. Kucera finished his hat trick off a perfect backdoor feed just two minutes later, and the Armory wasn’t slowing down. Matt Belles was next to score on the left side.
Halfway through the third, it was pretty evident that the Armory had found Austin Sheehan’s Kryptonite as they put shot after shot into the top right corner on the Buffaloes’ netminder. Goode scored his lone goal next with the assist from Constable, going to the right post once again. The last two Armory goals of the quarter were created in transition by Nathan Schultzkie as he assisted John before scoring himself a minute into the fourth quarter.
With nothing left to prove, the Armory sent in backup goalie John Alexander; he was able to hold down the net for the final frame. The Buffaloes scored three times in the last 12 minutes of the game, too little too late.
ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – JULY 12: UCBLL :: Armory v Buffaloes :: July 12, 2023 in Rochester, New York, USA. (Photo by Micheline Veluvolu)
Before the game could end, John finished his hat trick, and Clifford Gaston finished the game with the last two Armory goals. The Armory will have a rematch with the Buffaloes for its next game. They will play at The Blue Cross Arena on July 19.