Facing a 9-3 deficit to start the fourth quarter, the Rochester Knighthawks scored three unanswered goals, but their late rally fell short in an eventual 11-9 loss to the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday at Brampton Memorial Arena.
The exhibition matchup was second of three games for the Knighthawks, who return to action on Saturday, Nov. 26.
Forward Holden Cattoni, who re-signed a one-year contract with Rochester last week, totaled three goals and two assists for a team-high five points, while Connor Fields (1+4) and Ryan Smith (1+2) each had four and three points, respectively. Dan Coates, Curtis Romanchych and Thomas Vela each registered a multi-point game with two assists. Trent Boyd, Corson Kealey, Ryan McCrory, and Jordan Trottier all added one goal apiece. Matt Gilray, Austin Hasen and Thomas Hoggarth rounded out scoring with an assist.
Rylan Hartley and Riley Hutchcraft split the goaltending duties in the contest for the second straight preseason game. Hartley, who earned the start in the crease, made 17 saves while Hutchcraft allowed stopped 18 shots in the second half.
During the opening quarter, Cattoni gave Rochester a 1-0 lead before the Roughnecks countered back to take a 5-2 lead at the end of the half. Smith produced the Knighthawks lone tally in the second quarter while Fields earned an assist on each of Rochester’s markers.
In the third quarter, Calgary increased its lead with four straight goals then took a 9-3 advantage going into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
Rochester began to chip into the deficit to make it a three-goal game, however, the Roughnecks prevailed for a 11-9 win.
Road Ahead
The Knighthawks have one final tune-up on Saturday, Nov. 26 versus Panther City Lacrosse Club before kicking off their third season in the NLL. Opening face-off for the exhibition contest is set for 7:00 p.m. at Brampton Memorial Arena.