A week after setting the single-game scoring record, Connor Fields turned in yet another remarkable performance, this time scoring six goals as part of a team-high 11-point night in leading the Rochester Knighthawks (5-6) to an impressive 18-12 win over the red-hot Albany FireWolves (10-3) Saturday night at Segar and Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena.
With the win, Rochester improves to 5-6 on the season, snapping a three-game home skid while also ending Albany’s league-best five-game road win streak.
Fields led an ensemble cast that contributed to Rochester’s second straight win, while Ryan Smith (5+5), Thomas McConvey (4+2), and Kyle Waters (3+2) each had hat tricks of their own. In addition, Ryan Lanchbury posted a career high-11 assists, matching Fields’ totals in last Sunday’s win over Panther City for a franchise best mark in helpers. Curtis Knight (five assists) and Dan Lomas (four assists) also found their way onto the scoresheet.
Riley Hutchcraft faced 63 shots, making a career-best 51 saves, including 15 in the second quarter alone. Hutchcraft has earned each of Rochester’s six wins in the 2023-24 NLL campaign. Justin Geddie started the game for Albany, but Doug Jamieson got the bulk of the time in net and was given the loss with a 26-save performance.
The win is the first at home for the Knighthawks since Dec. 23, 2023.
Fields opened the scoring 5:07 into the first, shooting a low missile by Geddie to give Rochester the 1-0 lead. Waters doubled the lead by jamming it through in tight, before Tye Kurtz scored just seconds later to get the FireWolves on the board, though Fields followed shortly thereafter, shooting five-hole on Geddie for his second of the game.
The ‘Hawks continued the scoring with a three-goal run through the latter half of the first quarter, with McConvey making it 4-1, then Fields amassing an opening quarter hat trick for the 5-1 advantage.
We will never get tired of Connor Fields scoring goals. pic.twitter.com/vcmRI6fhmr
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 10, 2024
Albany retaliated for a pair to get within two goals, but the ‘Hawks answered back with Lanchbury finding McConvey in the corner with 15 seconds left to score his second of the night, making it 6-3 Knighthawks.
Sam Firth got Albany back within two before the end of the quarter, but Smith started the second with his 100th goal as a Knighthawk 49 seconds in. Following Saturday’s output, the third-year Knighthawk has accumulated 104 goals and 104 assists for 208 points in 45 games.
Kurtz struck back for the FireWolves to make it 7-5, but Waters responded with an overhand blast from the left side as the ‘Hawks continued pressing down on the offensive gas pedal for a second straight game.
We just wanna watch this Riley Hutchcraft breakaway save over and over again 😍#GoalieAppreciation@RocKnighthawks pic.twitter.com/b8knAnxw4g
— NLL (@NLL) March 10, 2024
Jackson Nishimura initiated a transition play for the FireWolves that ended by beating Hutchcraft. That goal started a four-goal run to give the visitors a 9-8 lead, with Firth’s second of the game being the marker to push Albany up by one.
Rochester’s disadvantage remained until the final minute of the first half, as Smith scored his 101st goal as a Knighthawk, ending a 14-minute goal drought and tying the game through 30 minutes. It was the only lead the FireWolves had all game.
The second half started just as the start of the game did, with Fields dancing his way to the front of the net to score, getting Rochester back in front with a 10-9 lead on his fourth goal of the night.
🚨 SMITTY TIES IT UP!
9-9 | Q2, 25.6 seconds remaining pic.twitter.com/K1SEZfRW3u
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 10, 2024
While on the power-play later in the quarter, Alex Simmons, the NLL’s rookie scoring leader, would be the one to convert for Albany, as a shorthanded goal made it 10-10 with under eight minutes to play in the frame. Smith then answered on the man-advantage, completing the hat trick to give the ‘Hawks a lead once more.
Fields’ heroic night continued, doubling the lead with his fifth of the game, slicing the ball by Jamieson. Smith continued playing goal tag with Fields, with the former tacking on his fourth goal of the night with a laser from the Segar and Sciortino spot on the floor to put the Knighthawks up by three at the end of the third.
The dynamic duo’s run was momentarily interrupted by Albany making it 13-11, but Smith jumped right back into the offensive zone to fire home his fifth of the night, keeping the foot on the gas pedal for Rochester’s explosive offense to make it 14-11.
Ryan Smith how are ya doing!
Smitty had a great game for @RocKnighthawks with 5 goals + 5 assists in an 18-12 W over Albany.
Let's watch his 10 point night 🍿 pic.twitter.com/z1hfXk4wre
— NLL (@NLL) March 10, 2024
Waters joined in on the party 6:52 into the fourth. The play developed thanks to Lanchbury, who drew the defense to him, creating an opening down the middle for Waters, making it 15-11 Rochester. McConvey continued pouring it on with a shot coming just over top the crease for his hat trick.
Fields didn’t settle for a hat trick, instead doubling his efforts for a sock trick, the second in the week for Rochester after McConvey netted half a dozen on Sunday. Fields’ sixth goal was his 35th of the season.
McConvey’s fourth of the night was added on late for Rochester’s 18 of the game. The Knighthawks have combined for 37 goals over their last two games.
Another week, another sock trick in the NLL 💅
Connor Fields brought the heat for @RocKnighthawks in an 18-12 win Albany with 6 goals and 5 assists
Let's see the sock trick 👀 pic.twitter.com/BS1eDknfwp
— NLL (@NLL) March 10, 2024
The Knighthawks go for the two-game sweep as well as look their third straight win when the home-and-home series shifts to Albany for a rematch with the FireWolves on Saturday, March 16 at MVP Arena. Game time is slated for a 7 p.m. start and will be carried live on Big 107.3 FM and ESPN+.
