The Boston Rockhoppers picked up their first win of the North American Lacrosse League season with a 10-9 victory over the Kentucky Stickhorses, repeating their performance when they defeated them to close out last season.
Goaltender Nick Schroeder led the Rockhoppers with 40 saves in the win to counter the 37 saves from losing goaltender Spencer Lyons.
Kentucky had 49 shots on goal to the Boston 47. Andrew Kirkaldy scored five goals, half of the ten that Boston picked up on the night. Kirkaldy was on the roster last season.
Anthony Kelly and Travis Bland each had two goals each, with Bland playing in his first ever NALL game. Kelly is a veteran who has been with the team since the start.
Neither team led by more than two goals at any point in the game, a close and hard fought battle. “”I was proud of our effort.” said Kentucky coach Pete Schroeder. “We did some good things with our penalty kill team when called upon and we were in a position to win the game in the 4th quarter. We’ll get our share of those; we just didn’t get it tonight. Hats off to Boston.”
Kentucky next plays on January 12th when they host the Rhode Island Kingfish, while Boston hosts the Baltimore Bombers in their first home game of the season on the same date.
