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NLL Rochester Knighthawks

Knighthawks Can Clinch Playoff Spot Saturday

April 10, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Rochester Knighthawks News Release


The Rochester Knighthawks can lock up a playoff spot this weekend with a win over the Colorado Mammoth. The three-time defending National Lacrosse League champions are gunning for their fifth straight appearance in the Champion's Cup Playoffs.

Rochester will host Colorado on Saturday, April 11th at 7:30 p.m. at Connors & Ferris Field at The Blue Cross Arena. The Knighthawks and the Mammoth will meet twice in seven days, as Rochester will travel to Denver to conclude the home-and-home series on Friday, April 17th. It's a pivotal part of the season with the Knighthawks in the hunt for first place in the East Division.

"We want to start playing our best lacrosse down the stretch and it starts with a big game against Colorado Saturday night," said forward Joe Walters, who has career highs in goals (17), assists (30) and points (47).

The game features the second place teams in the East and West Divisions. After knocking off the Minnesota Swarm in historic fashion Saturday, the Knighthawks (9-4) are back in the hunt for first place in the East Division. With two wins in two days, including an 11-7 win in Toronto, Rochester now trails the Rock by one game for the division lead. Colorado (8-6) is in second place in the West and trails the Edmonton Rush by one and a half games.

Last weekend, goalie Matt Vinc and the Rochester defense were nearly unbeatable as it limited Toronto and Minnesota to a combined nine goals in two games. The two goals against Saturday set an NLL regular season record. In the back-to-back wins, Vinc made 88 saves and finished the weekend with .907 save percentage. The veteran netminder is second in the league in goals-against average (9.79) and saves (511). He leads the NLL with an impressive .806 save percentage.

"It was two good efforts. Last night in Toronto and tonight you can't ask for much more," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen after the win over the Swarm. "It was very rewarding for the guys out there. 'V' played a great game and the nine guys on the 'D' end did a dynamite job. It was a good team win and it's a good team record."

Rochester will rely on their four-time Goalie of the Year in the final stretch run. After Saturday's game, the Knighthawks have a big weekend coming up with back-to-back road games against Colorado and Vancouver. Rochester will close out the regular season with a home game against New England on Saturday, April 25th and a road game in Minnesota on Saturday, May 2nd.

"'Vno' has been our backbone since he got here," said forward Cody Jamieson. "It is no secret when he is on, we have a really good chance of winning."

Jamieson, who notched seven points last week, needs just one more point to reach 400 in his career. Dan Dawson, who sparked the offense Friday with a five-point effort in Toronto, moved within five points of becoming just the seventh player in NLL history to record 1,100 career points. He is also 11 assists away from hitting the 700-assist plateau. He would become only the sixth player in NLL history to achieve that feat. In the two wins, Rochester also received help from newly acquired forward Joe Resetarits, who scored five goals in the pair of games. His three goals Saturday in the win over Minnesota tied his career high.

"Playing on this offense is like playing on an all-star team," said Resetarits. "You just find the spot and you're going be open. They'll find you. You just have to go out there and play, and do the little things and you'll get rewarded."

To watch the Knighthawks battle the Mammoth on Saturday night, fans can purchase tickets at all Ticketmaster outlets, online at ticketmaster.com and through the Knighthawks Office by calling (585) 454-HAWK (4295).

On Saturday, the Knighthawks will hold their annual Kids Days, presented by Zweigle's . Gates will open at 4:00 p.m. The festivities will include inflatables, laser tag, a magician, face painters and air brush tattoos. Admission to the pregame event and the game are free for kids 12 and under. Fans must have a ticket to enter.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 10, 2015


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