Despite four-goal outputs from both Ryan Smith (4+5) and Kyle Waters (4+1), the Rochester Knighthawks (3-2) were unable to fend off a fourth-quarter rally by the defending NLL champion Buffalo Bandits (3-2), who escaped with a 15-13 win in front of over 8,000 fans at Segar and Sciortino Field at the Blue Cross Arena Saturday night.
In addition to Smith and Waters’ big nights, Connor Fields (2+5), and rookie Thomas McConvey (2+5) each had seven-point nights. Ryan Lanchbury posted six assists on his evening, while Matt Gilray (1+1), Austin Hasen (one assist) and Mitch Ogilvie (one assist) also found the scoresheet. Riley Hutchcraft made a season high-49 saves in goal for the ‘Hawks. On the other side of the floor, Matt Vinc, who played eight seasons with the original Knighthawks, scooped up 49 saves to earn his 150th career win in the National Lacrosse League. He became the only goaltender in league history to reach 150 wins.
It was another intense chapter in the heated rivalry between Buffalo and Rochester with amplified physicality throughout the game resulting in the teams combining for 37 penalty minutes, including five apiece for Tyler Biles and Emerson Clark, who dropped the gloves in a fight less than five minutes into the game.
After trading goals with Buffalo for the bulk of the opening quarter, which saw a combined 12 goals between the two teams, the Knighthawks went on a five-goal run carrying them from the final 3:48 of the first into the opening minute of the second. Gilray and Waters each scored while the ‘Hawks trailed by two, before Fields and McConvey inversed the scoreboard, giving Rochester a 7-5 lead through 15 minutes.
Of Thomas McConvey's 7 points (2+5) last knight…this one was our favorite 🤩 pic.twitter.com/id36LTEtvT
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) January 14, 2024
Smith added to the collection of conversions with his opening minute goal in the second as part of a career best nine-point game for the third-year Knighthawk. Two of Smith’s four goals came on the man-advantage, as Rochester struck on four of its six power-play chances. Five of the Burlington, Ontario, native’s nine points were registered in the first quarter.
After combining for 20 goals in the opening half, the two sides entered the third quarter deadlocked at 10. The scoring slowed considerably in the third, with just two goals coming in the quarter, both belonging to the Knighthawks by way of Waters and Fields’ power-play goals.
KYLE W4TERS?! KYLE W4TERS! 🚨🚨🚨🚨
11-10, us | Q3, 5:20 remaining pic.twitter.com/2AzCE3l2sG
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) January 14, 2024
With the score 12-10 in its favor, Rochester looked to shut down the defending league champions in the fourth, but a stretch of five unanswered Buffalo goals allowed for the Bandits to pull ahead for good.
Josh Byrne scored consecutive goals in less than 30 seconds, with his second proving to be the game-winner. He finished the night with a hat trick and six points (3+3). Dhane Smith, who’s coming off back-to-back 90-plus assist seasons, posted a half dozen helpers on the night, with two coming in the final quarter. Chris Cloutier finished off the scoring for the Bandits with his third of the night with under four minutes to play.
🚨 FIELDSY MAKES IT 3 STRAIGHT FOR THE GOOD GUYS!
6-5, us | Q1, 1:30 remaining pic.twitter.com/hCoqk4mcW2
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) January 14, 2024
McConvey got the ‘Hawks back within two late, but Rochester was unable to solve Vinc any further.
The Knighthawks fall to 3-2 on the season rolling into another bye week before venturing north of the border to take on the Halifax Thunderbirds on Saturday, Jan. 27 at Scotiabank Centre.
