The Rochester Knighthawks started their 21st year in the National Lacrosse League the same way they started the last two seasons, raising their championship banner. This one was special, this isn’t just a normal championship banner, this banner represents history. The 2014 banner will forever represent the first team to ever three-peat in the National Lacrosse Leagues existence, which is now 29 years.
The ceremony kicked off with members of the fan club bringing the cup out to a table by the Knighthawks bench. Carrying the cup were, Tim “Knabber” Knab (President) and David “Krewman” Grieco (V.P.) as the 6,000 plus fans roared as they did when the cup was won last season. Both Knab and Grieco echoed the same feelings, “It was an honor to carry the cup out”. Grieco also added he was worried about tripping with the bright spotlight in his eyes and the way the turf bubbles.
David “Krewman” Grieco (holding cup) and Tim “Knabber” Knab (face paint) and some fan club members prior to carrying cup onto the floor.
As the game began the Knighthawks controlled the pace and flow of the game. Both starting goalies, Matt Vinc and Brandon Miller came up huge in the first quarter, especially Miller as Rochester built a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes. Cory Vitarelli (3G/1A) started the scoring a minute into the game. Hawks then scored two more times within 34 seconds. Aaron Wilson (1G/2A) scored at 4:29 after Cody Jamieson (2G/6A) stole an outlet pass and hit Wilson in front of the net. At 5:03 Craig Point (2G/1A) scored on a tic-tac-toe play.
Toronto finally got on the board at the eight minute mark as Rob Hellyer (3G/3A) started the offense for the Rock. Both teams would score two more times as Rochester held a 5-3 lead after the first quarter.
The next two quarters were much of the same, up and back action great scoring chances along with great defense. Rock finally tied the game at 7:18 of the third with a blast from Stephan LeBlanc (3G/1A). But it was Jordan Hall’s (1G/2A) with 4:01 in the third that broke the tie. Then with only 10 seconds remaining in the third, Cory Vitarelli scored the highlight goal of the night as he came off a pick and was met by a defender he took the hit spun around and fired a laser of a shot over his shoulder and went top corner on Brandon Miller.
If the game was only 45 minutes long, the Knighthawks would be 1-0, but we play 60 minutes. The final fifteen minutes the wheels seem to fall off the bus for the Hawks. Leblanc started the scoring for the Rock in the final stanza at 2:17, only to have Joe Walters (1G/1A) score 29 seconds later, this would be the Knighthawks only goal of the final quarter as they have a 12-10 lead with 12 minutes remaining.
Brock Sorensen puts a shot pass Matt Vinc 25 seconds after Walters goal to close the lead to 12-11. Then it was Damon Edwards scoring on a break-away after a beautiful outlet pass from Brandon Miller that hit Edwards in stride as he put the ball by Vinc. Then just 56 seconds later Kasey Beirnes (3G) took a pass from Brodie Merrill to give Toronto their first and only lead of the night as they held off a rush by the Knighthawks.
Toronto was 5-8 on the man advantage, while Rochester was 3-5. But the biggest stat of this game is what kept Toronto in it the whole time. The Rock picked up 94 loose balls to Rochesters 59. Tjose 35 extra pickups led to extra scoring chances and eliminated extra ones for the Knighthawks.
Next up for the Knighthawks (0-1) will be a trip to the Mohegan Sun as the face the New England BlackWolves (1-0). Stephen Keogh is slated to return to action this weekend.
