ROCHESTER – The Toronto Rock could not solve the momentum created in the Rochester Knighthawks home opener or a slow first-half start, losing 14-9 at the Blue Cross Arena Saturday night.
This is the first time in team history that the Rock have begun the season at 0-3, and the team set a new franchise for most goals allowed in a half, surrendering 12 in the opening frame.
Fortunately, the Rock will have time for redemption soon, when they travel the Buffalo’s HSBC Arena next Saturday Jan. 21 to play the Bandits at 7:30 p.m.
Steve Toll scored the first goal for the Knighthawks, streaking in with Rochester shorthanded to beat Watson low.
The Knighthawks scored three goals early in the first quarter before Matt Shearer replied for Toronto. The Rock trailed the K-hawks 5-2 at the end of the first.
Josh Sanderson scored 41 seconds into the second quarter to try to help jumpstart a Rock comeback, coming around a pick from the top and beating O’Toole cleanly.
Rochester tallied 12 goals on 24 shots in the first half.
In the second half, Toronto’s shooters ran into some bad luck hitting five posts early. However they outscored their division rivals 4-1 in the quarter and started to claw their way back.
At the end of third quarter, Phil Wetherup (who relieved starter Bob Watson in the second quarter) makes a huge save on a fast-break away all alone on former Rock forward Steve Toll.
In the fourth quarter, Rochester goalie Pat O’Toole was solid only allowing one Rock goal.
Shawn Williams, the player of the game, led the way with four goals and three assists. Shooter Sanderson had two goals and three assists for the Rock.
Box Score
LACROSSE
National Lacrosse League
KNIGHTHAWKS 14, ROCK 9
(Blue Cross Arena)
First Quarter
Scoring
1. Rochester Toll (Schiller) 1:44 SH
2. Rochester Shawn Evans (unassisted) 2:59 4-on-4
3. Rochester Accursi (Williams, Grant) 4:31 PP
4. Toronto Shearer (unassisted) 5:48
5. Toronto Veltman (Manning) 6:58
6. Rochester Scott Evans (Grant) 11:44
7. Rochester Shawn Evans 2 (Accursi, Scott Evans) 14:32
Penalties – Rochester Thorpe (holding) 1:24 / Toronto bench (too many men, served by Shearer) 2:29; Rochester Grant (checking from behind) 8:09; Toronto Merrill (crosschecking) 12:15.
Second Quarter
Scoring
8. Toronto J. Sanderson (Doyle, Shearer) 0:41
9. Rochester Williams (Thorpe) 3:33 PP
10. Rochester Grant (Abrams) 3:59
11. Toronto Shearer 2 (J. Sanderson) 4:55 PP
12. Rochester Williams 2 (unassisted) 7:33
13. Rochester Williams 3 (Millin, Scott Evans)
14. Rochester Accursi (Hoar) 8:59
15. Rochester Grant (Accursi, Williams) 11:35
16. Rochester Shawn Evans 3 (Accursi) 13:44
Penalties – Rochester Cougevan (roughing) 1:41; Toronto Ladouceur (roughing) 1:41; Rochester Ditzell (slashing) 3:33; Rochester Abrams (checking from behind) 4:49; Toronto Giles (interference) 8:19; Toronto Veltman (roughing) 9:34; Toronto Campbell (roughing) 13:08.
Third Quarter
Scoring
17. Toronto J. Sanderson 2 (Suddons, Merrill) 1:36
18. Toronto Giles (Suddons, Wilson) 5:03
19. Rochester Willams 4 (unassisted) 6:52 PP
20. Toronto Wilson (Doyle, Veltman) 9:59
21. Toronto Doyle 2 (J. Sanderson, Manning) 14:29 PP
Penalties – Rochester Shawn Evans (fighting major, game misconduct) 15:00; Toronto Kruger (fighting major, game misconduct) 15:00; Toronto Manning (roughing, fighting major) 6:20; Rochester Schiller (fighting major) 6:20; Rochester Toll (holding) 8:00; Rochester bench (too many men, served by Chapman) 13:01.
Fourth Quarter
Scoring
22. Toronto Doyle (Wilson, J. Sanderson), 7:10
23. Rochester Accursi 3 (Williams, Grant) 13:11 PP
Penalties – Rochester Abrams (crosschecking) 3:01; Toronto Wilson (roughing) 7:10; Rochester Hasen (roughing) 7:10; Toronto Veltman (roughing, ten-minute misconduct); 12:30; Toronto Campbell (slashing) 12:17.
Scoring 1 2 3 4 T
Toronto 2 2 4 1 9
Rochester 5 7 1 1 14
Shots on Goal: 1 2 3 4 T
Toronto 13 12 16 13 54
Rochester 9 16 8 5 38
Goalies: Toronto Watson (10 saves, 20 shots) Wetherup (8:59 second quarter, 14 saves on 18 shots); Rochester O’Toole (45 saves, 54 shots)
Powerplays: Toronto – 2/8; Rochester 3/11.
Referees – Tom Sutton, Scott Malloy, Steve Miller.
Attendance – 10, 156.
