NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Jamieson Delivers in the Clutch

February 24, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


When it comes to stepping up when the pressure is on, reigning National Lacrosse League MVP Cody Jamieson knows how to get the job done. The forward and assistant captain proved just that on Saturday, February, 21st when he and the Knighthawks used a late-game rally to defeat the Buffalo Bandits in overtime to sweep the season series against their Thruway rivals.

"(The Bandits) picked up their game in the third quarter, but this team has resiliency," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. "They will bend, but they won't break and they'll keep pushing right through and that's what they did. We got a few lucky bounces and 'Jammer' stepped up at the right time for us. He got us three big goals there to get the win."

Earlier in the game, Rochester trailed by as many as five goals. The team went on its biggest run of the game, beginning with Jamieson's first goal of the game. The team went on to score seven goals between the final minutes of the third until the final buzzer. This included a dominating fourth quarter, powered by Jamieson on the front end and the Knighthawks defense in the back, to serve the Bandits their third loss against the Knighthawks.

"It's one of those things we expect from ourselves. We're a veteran team so whether we're up by five, down by five, up by one or down by one, we try to play at the same level. We come out just trying to get that next goal every time, trying to get on the next run and not take our foot off the gas," Jamieson said.

Jamieson went on to put up two more goals and collect an assist in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter to tie the game at 12, sending the East Division foes into overtime.

"I think I just finally hit my spot," Jamieson said. "I must have taken a lot of shots. I didn't hit my spot for a long time and it was frustrating, but I stuck with it. I'm glad my teammates stuck with me on that because I just kept shooting and shooting and shooting and they finally started going in. We just took it one goal at a time and just kept going at it."

"Cody and I were getting shots," said Knighthawks forward Joe Walters. "We had a couple shots that almost went in, but as offensive players, we just kept saying 'keep shooting the ball, keep taking the shots, keep getting aggressive' and we were. They started dropping at the end because we stayed aggressive. Good things happen when you do those things and you saw that in the fourth quarter."

Jammer's most important play of the game happened at 3:02 of overtime. With the fans on their feet, Jamieson took a pass from Walters, raced toward the goal on the right-wing side and beat Bandits goaltender Anthony Cosmo with a low shot to the near post. He finished the game with a season-high four goals.

"Everyone stepped up when they had to and that's a big part of this group," Hasen said. "We're a veteran team. We understand what happens through the game and it's about what you do next. In the fourth quarter, we let one goal in and shut the door and went on our run. It's what this group does and everyone is starting to find their groove more."

Jamieson is well-known for his timing and being a team leader when they need him most. He leads the team in points (49) and goals (17), and is second in assists (29).

This season, Jamieson and Walters have formed some chemistry, which was evident in the most recent game. The duo connected for all three of Jamieson's late-game goals in the win against the Bandits. Walters recognizes that Jamieson's drive to always do better is what makes him a true MVP.

"Sometimes players just come up big in big games like this, it happened at the right time. That's why (Jamieson) is our leader. That's why he's the league MVP. He's that guy for a reason," Walters said. "He came up big at the end and I think in general, our whole team just (had) a great win, a character win. To be down by five goals and fight back one at a time, that just shows what kind of team this is."

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