Despite another big performance from Connor Fields, the Rochester Knighthawks (6-7) couldn’t get their offense to click after the first quarter Saturday night in Denver, where they fell to the Colorado Mammoth (5-9) by a 13-7 outcome at Ball Arena.
As a result, Rochester drops back below .500 with a 6-7 record with five games remaining in the NLL campaign. The loss snaps a three-game win streak, the second of its kind for the Knighthawks this season.
Fields had another impressive night on the stat sheet, reaching 40 goals on the season with a hat trick and four-point performance (3+1). Rochester’s leading scorer also led the way with 15 shots and 13 loose ball recoveries, while Matt Gilray scooped 11 loose balls. Ryan Lanchbury (2+3) and Ryan Smith (2+1) joined Fields in finding the back of the net. Rookie forward Thomas McConvey tallied three assists, while Gilray, Curtis Knight, and Kyle Waters each logged an assist in their efforts.
Riley Hutchcraft recorded 30 saves in the loss. Doug Buchan briefly stepped into the crease during the third quarter, making one save in his 2:06 of action. Dillon Ward earned the win in goal, improving Colorado’s record to 5-9 on the year with his 44-save output.
It was a low-scoring affair on both sides through the first 30 minutes in Denver on Saturday. Lanchbury got Rochester on the board first 1:23 into the contest, shooting five-hole from the left side past Colorado’s Ward. Lanchbury scored again when he stood atop the zone, blasting a shot to the back of the net before five minutes had gone by in the first quarter.
FIELDSY FOR THE HAT TRICK!
11-7, them | Q4, 7:35 remaining pic.twitter.com/H1bK5xpwM7
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 24, 2024
Connor Robinson responded for the Mammoth, getting the ball by Hutchcraft just under seven minutes into the first, but Smith quickly went the other way and snapped home his 38th goal of the season. Fields followed 35 seconds later to make it a 4-1 game through the opening 15 minutes. Rochester then went 17:12 without a conversion and would score just three times the rest of the game.
The Mammoth limited scoring chances while subsequently scoring twice in the second quarter to pull within a goal, before Fields smashed in his 40th of the year, giving the ‘Hawks a 5-3 lead at halftime.
Ryan Smith. From range.
Nothin' better. pic.twitter.com/772byuIT0s
— Rochester Knighthawks (@RocKnighthawks) March 24, 2024
After netting just three goals in the first 30 minutes, Colorado scored just as many in the first 3:38 of the third quarter as part of a six-goal run and seven-goal frame, eventually reaching a 9-5 advantage on the board.
Zed Williams and Eli McLaughlin each scored a pair of goals in the third to help the Colorado rally. Rochester’s only goal of the third quarter came with 2:24 remaining, as Smith scored on the power-play in an attempt to shift momentum back in favor of the Knighthawks, but Williams’ third of the night came under a minute later to keep the pressure on, with Rochester trailing 10-6 going into the final quarter. Williams’ eventful night continued with a shorthanded marker to build Colorado’s lead to five goals.
Fields goes ☝️
Shot goes 👇@RocKnighthawks lead by 3 late in the first! pic.twitter.com/OKIOiHU8zf— NLL (@NLL) March 24, 2024
Fields would retaliate with 7:35 to play, completing his hat trick by hurling the ball from the right side, making it 11-7. Hutchcraft left the net for an extra attacker with under three minutes left, but McLaughlin matched Williams’ four-goal performance with the empty net conversion. Dylan Kinnear added a second empty net goal to post the 13-7 final.
The Knighthawks will play three of their five remaining games on their home floor at Segar and Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena. The next two games take place in the Flower City, beginning Saturday, March 30 when Rochester welcomes the Halifax Thunderbirds to town for the ‘Hawks first ever ROC the Rink game, powered by DASH! The team will wear specialty Rochester city-inspired jerseys that will be up for auction the week of the game.
