By CRAIG POTTER
Rochester needs a win in Buffalo next week to secure a NLL playoff berth.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks failed to secure a National Lacrosse League Eastern Conference playoff berth on Saturday night before 8,143 fans at the Connnors & Ferris Field at the Blue Cross Arena.
The New England Black Wolves notched an 11-6 victory to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Actually, every team in the Eastern Conference is alive for a playoff spot entering the final weekend of play.
“It’s a crazy year for the East, that’s for sure,” said Hawks forward Joe Resetarits. “We know we control our own destiny. We win, we can easily go in there and play with any team when we’re on. These are the games that we enjoy, fun games. Something important’s on the line like that, if you can’t get up for those type of games, you shouldn’t be playing. We’re all going to be excited, we’re all going to be ready to go, that’s for sure. We know what’s at stake. Our destiny is right in front of us. We’ve just got to win.”
The Georgia Swarm lead the conference with a 9-7 record and have games against Vancouver and NE next weekend. The Black Wolves and Knighthawks each sport 9-8 slates, but NE holds the tie-breaker over Rochester. The Toronto Rock and Buffalo Bandits close out the division with 8-9 records.
This is the first time in NLL history that the Eastern Conference has been this tight entering the final weekend of the regular season.
The Knighthawks close out the regular season next Saturday in Buffalo against the Bandits.
New England goalie Aaron Bold, who played for the Knighthawks in 2010 and 2011, has never lost to a Rochester team in the ensuing years: 4 with the Edmonton Rush, 2 with the Saskatchewan Rush, and this season with NE.
“We said earlier today that maybe it was Boldy we weren’t able to beat with him being in Edmonton and Saskatoon,” said Knighthawks coach Mike Hasen. “We haven’t beat him yet. Kidding aside, he was real good. Their ‘D’ was good.”
Bold made 58 saves, many of the spectacular variety, in posting the win.
“You can’t score six goals,” said Rochester forward Joe Resetarits. “I think everybody knows that and knows this game that six goals isn’t going to win you a game. Their ‘D’ played well. Boldy was amazing tonight. Every game this year, he’s stood on his head against us. Their ‘D’, they’re big, they pack it in, they got in lanes. They did a good job of that.”
Resetarits, who tied the NLL record for most points by an US-born player with 94, had 1 goal and 1 assist. Tom Schneider set the mark last season playing with Toronto. Resetarits can break the record next week in Buffalo against his former team, the Bandits.
Rookie Austin Shanks scored 2 goals to lead the Rochester offense. Eric Fannell, Scott Campbell, and Kyle Jackson accounted for the other tallies.
Links
Rochester Knighthawks – knighthawks.com
Videos
Joe Resetarits goal – https://youtu.be/DemEQt1ncM8
Kyle Jackson goal – https://youtu.be/F7BB9B0vGYY