NLL Rochester Knighthawks

A 'Knight' to Remember for Knighthawks

Published on February 18, 2012 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


(Rochester)... The Rochester Knighthawks rallied to defeat the Washington Stealth 15-12 Saturday night at The Blue Cross Arena. With the victory, Rochester improves to 3-4 on the season, while Washington falls to 1-5 overall with the loss.

Rochester was led by Craig Point and Mike Accursi, who each had a three-goal and two-assist evening. Pat McCready recorded a hat trick (3+1), while Joe Walters (1+3) and Cory Vitarelli (1+3) also had solid performances for Rochester. Matt Vinc made a season-high 50 saves in the team's second straight home win.

Washington was led by Lewis Ratcliff's eight-point game (4+4), while Rhys Duch (4+0) and Brett Bucktooth (1+4) also had solid games for the Stealth.

Both teams got off to hot starts as each scored two goals in the opening 3:15l Washington got the scoring started first when Ratcliff found the back of the net just over two minutes into the game. Rochester was quick to answer, scoring two of the next three goals to even the score at 2-2 with 11:45 left in the period. McCready and Scott Campbell scored the Knighthawks goals. Minnesota, however, would take to a 4-2 lead to close the period behind goals from Duch and Matt Beers.

In the second, Rochester was able to tie the score at 5-5 after scoring three of the first four goals in the period. Point and Vitarelli scored early in the period, before Point scored again on the power play to pull even with just under six minutes remaining in the half. Bucktooth scored just over a minute later for the Stealth, pushing them back in front by a goal. Washington would take a 6-5 lead to the locker room at halftime.

In the third, the Stealth surged to an early three goal lead in the first two minutes of play. Mike Grimes and Duch scored just 23 seconds apart for Washington, giving them their largest lead of the game. Rochester then narrowed the deficit back to a single goal behind scores from Accursi and McCready just ahead of the halfway point in the period. The two teams traded goals over the final eight minutes and the Stealth lead 9-8 going into the game's final quarter.

Washington started the fourth quarter scoring with a goal off the stick of Athan Iannucci, but his goal was quickly answered by Rochester's Accursi. The teams would then go back and forth trading goals over the next five minutes, with Ratcliff's goal at the 6:29 mark pushing the Stealth lead back to two goals once again. Then it was rally time for the Khawks. Rochester was finally able to break through with a rally, stringing three goals together over a three minute stretch that gave Rochester their first lead of the game at 13-12 with just over two minutes to play. The rally featured goals from McCready, Point and Walters. Johnny Powless and Brad Self would add insurance goals for the Knighthawks over the final 49 seconds as Rochester finished by scoring the last five goals of the game.

Rochester is next in action when they travel north to face the Toronto Rock next Saturday, February 24th at 7:00 p.m. The Knighthawks return home Saturday March 10th when they face the rival Buffalo Bandits at 1:05 p.m. in front of what is sure to be a packed house at Blue Cross Arena.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 18, 2012


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