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NLL Albany FireWolves

FireWolves Open up New Season with a Road Victory in Buffalo

December 3, 2022 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Albany FireWolves News Release


The Albany FireWolves (1-0) defeated the Buffalo Bandits (0-1), 11-10, at the KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York on Saturday evening. The Bandits struck first in the contest, but Albany's new look offense fired back with four unanswered goals and maintained control throughout the game. Doug Jamieson remained stout in net for Albany, stopping 44 Buffalo shots on the night.

SCORE BY QUARTER 1 2 3 4 FINAL

ALBANY 3 2 4 2 11

BUFFALO 1 3 3 3 10

Buffalo controlled the game's opening faceoff but came up empty on their first possession as Jamieson stuffed Tehoka Nanticoke at the net. After multiple empty trips by both teams, Nanticoke opened the scoring by putting a shot just outside of Jamieson's left leg. Minutes later following a timeout, Tanner Thomson knotted the game back at one as he sniped one into the back of the net from deep. On the ensuing possession, newly acquired forward Connor Kelly dove across the crease and went over the left shoulder of Matt Vinc to give the FireWolves their first lead of the night. Wasting no time, another new member of the FireWolves, Ethan Walker, fired one into the net to grow Albany's early lead. Buffalo was unable to score in the final seconds of the quarter and Albany took a 3-1 lead into the second.

The Bandits won the initial faceoff of the new quarter and quickly had a good look on net, but Nanticoke was rejected once again by Jamieson. Following a delay of game penalty on Buffalo, Albany scored seconds later as Kelly notched his second of the contest. Less than a minute later, the Bandits were hit with another penalty, but were able to kill off the FireWolves power play. After a Josh Byrne shot bounced off Jamieson high into the air, Ian MacKay caught the rebound and shot on an open net to get one back for the Bandits. After multiple shot opportunities on the ensuing Bandits possession, Byrne bested Jamieson to close the gap to 4-3 halfway through the second period. About a minute later, Walker buried his second of the night to get one back for Albany. Coming out of a television timeout, Kyle Buchanan netted one after a nice feed from Buffalo's Dhane Smith. The FireWolves came up empty with the final possession of the second quarter but carried a 5-4 lead into the halftime break.

After two scoreless minutes to open the second half, Albany was penalized with a five-minute goalie interference major as Walker crashed into Vinc. Despite being a man down, Charlie Kitchen was able to muscle his way through two defenders and find John Piatelli for a shorthanded goal - the rookie's first of his career. With 30 seconds left on the major penalty, Albany was hit with minor, extending Buffalo's man-up advantage for two additional minutes. Soon after, Byrne rolled one into the net for his second goal of the night. With six minutes to play in the third quarter, Hiana Thompson soared from behind the net and squeaked in his first goal with the FireWolves. Seconds later, another Albany newcomer, Kieran McArdle, fired a sidearm shot past Vinc to extend the lead to 8-5. Keeping their foot on the gas, Thomson buried a high shot for Albany's third goal in less than two minutes. Buffalo was finally able to stop the bleeding as Nanticoke beat Jamieson for the second time in the game on a nifty shot with a minute to go in the quarter. Thirty seconds later, Chris Cloutier went airborne and scored another for the Bandits. Albany could not get a shot on net and maintained a 9-7 lead after three quarters of play.

Three minutes into the fourth, Buchanan took a shot from the deep center of the turf that bounced into the net. Buffalo then quickly tied it at nine goals apiece as Nanticoke collided with Jamieson, but only after he completed his hat trick. Nanticoke was ejected from the game for crashing into Jamieson with 11 minutes to go, giving Albany another power play opportunity. Albany was able to capitalize on the man-up advantage as McArdle scored his second goal of the contest with over a minute remaining on the power play. Back at even strength, Colton Watkinson entered his name into the score book with a transition goal that gave Albany a two-score lead with five minutes to go. After an interference infraction on Albany, Cloutier took the ball in transition and brought Buffalo back within a goal. The FireWolves were able to run out the clock securing their first win of the young season on the road in Buffalo. The FireWolves will meet the Bandits one more time this year in the regular season finale in Albany.

Next up for the FireWolves is the home-opening game versus the Rochester Knighthawks on Saturday, December 17. For more information regarding tickets, visit www.AlbanyFireWolves.com or call/text the FireWolves front office at 518-362-4900.

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