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Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks Focused on Minnesota

April 30, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


The Rochester Knighthawks will travel to the Twin Cities to play the Minnesota Swarm at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd at the Xcel Energy Center. The game could have playoff implications with Rochester trailing the Toronto Rock by one game with one game to play. The Knighthawks can repeat as division champs with a New England win over Toronto on Friday and a victory of their own Saturday against Minnesota.

Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen, however, admitted he was not thinking about playoff scenarios this week. Rather, he was focused on the game in Minnesota.

"We are treating this like any other game," he said. "We are going to worry about ourselves, and making sure we are sharp and focused."

Veteran defenseman Mike Kirk was also only concerned about Saturday night.

"Our only focus right now is Minnesota. We have to take care of our own business and then we will see where the chips fall," he said. "We have to be ready. We are up against a good, young and athletic team."

The game against the Swarm is the third and final meeting between the two teams. The season series is tied at one win apiece with Rochester winning the last contest, 10-2, on April 4th. Knighthawks goalie Matt Vinc turned aside 39 shots and his defense suffocated the Swarm offense, setting a National Lacrosse League regular season record by allowing just two goals. The game this Saturday will be broadcast on NLL Live in the U.S. and TSN GO in Canada. The radio broadcast will be available on 105.5 The Team and online at theteam.fm.

Last Saturday, the Knighthawks improved to 12-5, following a 14-6 win over the New England Black Wolves at Connors & Ferris Field at The Blue Cross Arena. Rochester received a season-high 10 points from Cody Jamieson and 32 saves from goalie Angus Goodleaf to notch its 10th win in its last 12 games.

"It was a great team win," said defenseman Dylan Evans, who won 15 faceoffs and scored a goal against the Black Wolves. "We are really trying to put things together and put a full game together as we head into the playoffs."

Joe Resetarits, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline, also tied single-game career bests with three goals and six points. In six games with Rochester, he has 11 goals and 10 assists. For the season, he has 18 goals and a career-high 24 assists for 42 points in 16 games.

"You just have to go out there and make your shots count," he said about playing in his new surroundings. "Look at all the guys on our offense. They are all all-stars."

Resetarits is one of six Rochester players to have 40-plus points this season. Jamieson leads the pack with 87 points, while Dan Dawson is second with 79. Jordan Hall has notched 59 points and Joe Walters has a career-high 51 this season. Craig Point has collected 46 points, which is his highest point total since the 2011 season.

"It is easy and fun to play with so many talented players," said Jamieson. "A big part of our success is because teams cannot focus on one or two players. We are all putting the ball in the net."

Rochester enters Saturday's contest just one game out of first place in the division and owns the regular season tiebreaker against the Rock, courtesy of a 2-1 head-to-head record. Yet, the Knighthawks could learn their playoff opponent Friday night as the Toronto Rock end the regular season with a 7:00 p.m. game at Mohegan Sun Arena.

A Rock win and the Knighthawks will host Buffalo on Friday, May 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the East Division Semifinals. However, with a New England win and a Rochester win, the Knighthawks will capture the East Division and earn a first-round bye. The East Division Finals would begin the following weekend.

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