The Rochester Knighthawks (3-8) pulled within a goal after falling behind 6-0 in the opening quarter but could not even the score as they dropped a 15-12 back-and-forth affair to the New York Riptide (3-8) Saturday at Segar & Sciortino Field at The Blue Cross Arena.
| SCORING SUMMARY | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | FINAL |
| New York | 6 | 2 | 2 | 5 | — | 15 |
| Rochester | 6 | 6 | 2 | 4 | — | 12 |
Knighthawks forward Thomas Hoggarth led the Knighthawks with a career-high five goals and six points. His five goals tied a franchise record while he added his fourth multi-goal effort of the season. Ryan Smith (2+2) and Turner Evans (1+3) both collected four points apiece while Curtis Knight (1+2), Ryland Rees (1+1), Holden Cattoni (1+2) and Matt Gilray (0+2) all turned in a multi-point performance. Smith’s four-point effort was his eighth straight multi-point game dating back to Dec. 11.
Tyler Halls scored his first professional goal in the third quarter while goaltender Joel Watson posted 37 saves in his first career National Lacrosse League start.
Jeff Teat, the first overall selection in the 2020 NLL Draft, paced the Riptide to their third win of the season as he produced a pair of goals and seven assists for a game-high nine points. Callum Crawford (5+1) and Connor Kearnan (3+1) both scored a hat-tricks while Dan Lomas (1+1), Kieran McArdle (0+2), Larson Sundown (1+1) and Mackenzie Mitchell (1+1) all turned in multi-point game.
WATCH: GAME HIGHLIGHTS
Netminder Steven Orleman appeared in his 11th appearance of the season and stopped 46 of the 58 shots he faced to earn the win. The goaltender also recorded a pair of helpers in the contest.
Rochester, who was shutout 6-0 in the opening quarter of the game responded, with four straight goals, which included a hat trick performance for Hoggarth, to cut the deficit to 6-4 at the 7:14 mark.
New York temporarily stopped the run as Dominey finished off a breakaway feed from Andrew Borgatti 1:23 later to restore the multi-goal cushion.
WATCH: THOMAS HOGGARTH POST-GAME
The Knighthawks pulled within a goal to make it a 7-6 game when Rees fired in a shot as he cut through the center of the offensive zone before Hoggarth added his fourth of the half just 13 seconds later as he scooped up a rebound.
To close out the first half, it appeared the Knighthawks would trail by a goal, but Teat scored on a penalty shot after a Rochester player was whistled for playing the ball in the crease with his hand.
In the third quarter, both teams scored a pair of goals to push the score to 10-8 heading into the final 15 minutes of regulation.
WATCH: MIKE HASEN POST-GAME
On Rochester’s first marker with 5:56 left in the third, Rees centered a pass to a cutting Halls and the rookie tucked the ball between the goaltender’s legs for his first professional goal.
Following Crawford’s second of the evening, Hoggarth added his fifth of the night to pull the Knighthawks within a pair ahead of the fourth quarter.
To close out the contest, the teams went goal for goal before the Riptide closed out the scoring as Mitchell sealed the 15-12 win in final minute as Watson was pulled for the extra player.
WATCH: RYAN SMITH POST-GAME
New York opened the game on a 6-0 run thanks in part to Kearnan producing a hat trick in the first 6:04 and then Crawford finishing off the scoring with 1:19 left in the frame.
The Knighthawks play their first game this season outside the Eastern Conference as they head north of the border on Saturday, March 19 to take on the Saskatchewan Rush for the only time this season at SaskTel Centre. The matchup gets underway at 9:30 p.m. ET and will be carried live on The Bull 107.3 FM as well as ESPN+. Fans can stay up to date all season long with the latest news, stories and notes at www.rochesterknighthawks.com.
