The back-to-back National Lacrosse League champion Rochester Knighthawks played the first of three preseason games on Saturday night in front of 10,782 screaming fans at the Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks rallied late in the fourth quarter to tie the game all up at 15-15 but ultimately fell 16-15 to the Minnesota Swarm.
Before Saturday’s exhibition game between the Knighthawks and the Swarm began, the National Lacrosse League took time out to honor former Knighthawks goaltender and now current Knighthawks goaltending coach Pat O’Toole as the lone 2013 inductee into the NLL Hall of Fame.
O’Toole has played in 16 seasons in the NLL. O’Toole’s goaltending resume includes one season with the New York Saints, three seasons with the Buffalo Bandits and 12 seasons with the Rochester Knighthawks. On this special night, helping to induct O’Toole into the NLL Hall of Fame were former Knighthawks teammates Paul Gait, Shawn Williams and Mike Hasen, current head coach of the Knighthawks.
Following O’Toole’s footsteps into Rochester Knighthawks goaltending glory is starter Matt Vinc. Vinc started the first half of the preseason game for the Knighthawks and only allowed five goals. Knighthawks Head Coach Hasen decided to place 2013 draft pick Brandon Styres and Ian Duffy in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen stated, “The main focus was getting everyone’s feet wet, especially the rookies and the young guys. It was their opportunity to show us what they can do to play in this league and, for the most part, we got our answers tonight.”
One player that answered a lot of questions for the coaching staff and Knighthawks’ fans was forward Craig Point, who had six goals and three assists. Point observed, “I did pretty good. I tried to help my team and do my game a favor by working out a lot during the offseason and perform on the floor.”
Point helped lead the Knighthawks to a 13-9 lead early into the fourth quarter when the Swarm went on a three-goal-run and helped bring themselves back from the brink by making it 13-12 midway through the fourth.
The number one overall pick in the 2013 draft for the Minnesota Swarm, Logan Shuss proved why he was picked first overall when he scored two clutch back-to-back goals with one minute remaining in the fourth quarter giving the Swarm back the 15-14 lead.
Knighthawks forward Cory Vitarelli explained the late lead collapse. “We were up late in the fourth quarter and any time you take a couple of minutes off… it’s going to bite you in the butt and that’s exactly what happened.”
The Knighthawks fans roared when forward Johnny Powless helped tie the game up at 15-15 with 11 seconds left in the game and went home stunned after Swarm forward Scott Jones sent one past the Knighthawks’ net minder with two seconds remaining.
Knighthawks Head Coach Mike Hasen after the game expressed, “We’re not happy with the outcome…we have a few more practices and two exhibition games before the season opener and we’ll iron it out. We’ll get better.”
The Knighthawks’ next preseason game will be on Saturday December 14th against the Toronto Rock at the Toronto Rock Athletic Centre.
