Rochester Knighthawks forward Holden Cattoni was coming off yet another career-year entering the 2021-22 campaign. While Cattoni began the season right where he left off, he played a new role on a young team trying to navigate their way through the National Lacrosse League.
Let’s take a look back at some of Cattoni’s top moments from this past year with Rochester.
HAVE YOURSELF A NINE-POINT NIGHT
Cattoni started off the season on a hot streak, paving the way for the Knighthawks offense for three straight weeks to kick off 2021-22 campaign.
The forward’s most impressive performance of the year, though?
Four goals.
All from a distance. pic.twitter.com/S4fnf6Ycbt— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 22, 2022
A nine-point effort against the Albany FireWolves on Dec. 18, 2021, when Rochester returned to New York State’s capital region for the first time since 2003. The highly anticipated matchup was spoiled by an offensive explosion by the Knighthawks, who dominated from start to finish on their way to a 16-7 thrashing of the FireWolves that Saturday night at the Times Union Center.
The four-goal and five-assist night that contributed to Cattoni’s nine-point effort was the most in a single game since he put up 10 points on three goals and seven assists against the Buffalo Bandits on Jan. 31, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYUjo_H1nK0
HELPING LEAD A YOUNG OFFENSE
Being the franchise’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year, Cattoni came into the 2021-22 season knowing that he’d need to continue contributing on offense while helping lead one of the younger teams in the NLL.
“We have a great group of guys up front and, you know, we really just tried to play off of each other and really use each individual’s skill set to our advantage. I think it was really good at the end of the year where we started clicking and everyone, I think, felt a little bit more confident and we just stopped being so robotic out there and worrying about plays or where we are at on the floor.”
Holden Cattoni is good at lacrosse. pic.twitter.com/aYlrnHm9ol
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) June 22, 2022
While the Knighthawks began to see progress on the offense towards the end of the season, Cattoni went on to lead Rochester’s offensive production for the second consecutive season. Cattoni ended the year appearing in all but one game for Rochester, combining for 63 points on 27 goals and 36 assists.
Continuing to fuel this Rochester offense is just the way that he likes to play and will continue to lead in the future.
“So, as far as leading it, that’s just kind of like how I play personally, and I think that’s something that is really good for an offense, just to be very fluid and natural so hopefully that’s a good sign for the future.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE
While the Knighthawks ended the season with a 4-14 record, there was a lot of good to come from their second season in the NLL as an expansion franchise, especially towards the end of the season, when both the defensive core and offensive units began to piece it all together.
Cattoni even admitted there weren’t a ton of games where the Knighthawks were out of it and the way they all began to work together by the end of the season was a true indication as to what this franchise can build in the future.
Rochester Knighthawks v Buffalo Bandits:: 2.26.22 :: Photo By Micheline V
“There weren’t a whole lot of games where we were really out of it. We put ourselves in some tough spots situationally throughout the year and really just couldn’t battle back from it. We’re still super young and we have a lot of growing to do and a lot of learning to do. “
Cattoni then finished with, “That being said, I think we did take a lot of strides to put ourselves in a position that we’ll be successful very soon.”
