Week 6 of NLL action featured a trio of Saturday night games. Two were significant theme nights, and the final game created some new league history. Read on to wrap up the weekend!
Las Vegas Desert Dogs 12 @ Albany FireWolves 11 OT
It was a special night in Albany with the Desert Dogs and FireWolves facing off in the first game of the Tucker Out Lymphoma Cup. With connections to Tucker Williams on both teams, emotions were high. Ultimately, Adam Poitras ended the game in overtime, converting Jackson Webster’s pass as he cut to the net.
Albany led after each of the first three quarters, but Las Vegas outscored Albany 4-3 in the fourth, and suddenly the FireWolves had to play catch up. Dyson Williams sent the game to overtime with his hat trick goal, picking up a rebound and putting the ball far side past Doug Jamieson. It was the first hat trick of his career.
In the first quarter, Dyson’s goal was challenged by Las Vegas head coach Shawn Williams – Dyson’s own father. However, the referees deemed the challenge as coming too late and the goal stood.
Dyson told Ashley Williams at halftime that “there are no hard feelings. It’s a game.”
Williams’ hat trick led all Albany goal scorers, and he tacked on two assists for a five-point game. Alex Simmons scored twice with five assists, and Ethan Walker scored twice with three helpers. Joe Nardella dominated at the faceoff dot winning 23 of 28 draws, and Doug Jamieson made 47 saves. Callum Crawford had a goal and eight shots on goal in his FireWolves’ debut.
Webster led the Desert Dogs in scoring with three goals and three assists; it was his NLL debut. Jonathan Donville also had a hat trick with two assists. Poitras scored three times including the game winner. Landon Kells made 48 saves for the win.
Rochester Knighthawks 16 @ Georgia Swarm 9
With Georgia’s loss to Rochester, the Buffalo Bandits are the only undefeated team remaining in the NLL this season. Rochester, losers of four straight, were on fire as they got back in the win column with a well-balanced attack and a solid effort from Riley Hutchcraft and the defense.
On Native Heritage Night, it was Lyle Thompson who gave the Swarm an early 1-0 lead, but it was their only lead of the game. Rochester led 4-1 after the opening quarter, and the Swarm never caught up.
Thompson, Andrew Kew and Bryan Cole each scored a pair of goals for the Swarm, with a combined five assists. Rookie Kaleb Benedict found his first career tally. Brett Dobson made 25 saves before Angus Goodleaf took over in goal for his first action of the season – he made 14 saves in 25 minutes of work.
Every member of Rochester’s offense had at least two points. Ryan Lanchbury led the charge with a hat trick and six assists; Connor Fields was right behind him with a pair of goals and six helpers. Kyle Waters, Ryan Smith and Taylor Jensen all scored twice, as did rookie Graydon Hogg, who picked up the first two goals of his career. Hutchcraft made 43 saves.
Ryan Lanchbury had himself a night! He notched a 9 point night (3G, 6A), as the @RocKnighthawks defeat the Swarm, 16-9.
Mike Sisselberger, the field lacrosse faceoff specialist acquired this week by Rochester, was successful in his first box outing, winning 20 of 29 draws against Jeremy Thompson and John Ranagan.
“Not surprised. He’s as good as it gets,” praised Fields in a post-game interview with Lauren Hoffman. “When we heard he was playing I can’t tell you the excitement we had. We know how good of a player he is, and we know the value of getting those extra touches so it’s good to have him on our side.”
Ottawa Black Bears 5 @ San Diego Seals 6
In the lowest-scoring game of the season – one that tied the record for the lowest total goals scored in NLL history – the Seals outlasted the Black Bears thanks to great goaltending from Christopher Origlieri. Not that Zach Higgins in Ottawa’s net was any slouch; Origlieri made 31 saves and Higgins 46.
Ottawa held the 5-4 lead at halftime, but Origlieri shut the door in the second half by denying 18 Black Bears’ shots. Seals’ captain Wes Berg was the only player to tally in the second half of action, with two goals 58 seconds apart to open the third quarter. The six goals scored by the Seals is the lowest score for a winning team in league history.
It was an electric battle between Zach Higgins (46 Saves) and Chris Origlieri (31 Saves) as the Seals take down the Black Bears 6-5
Jeff Teat, Taggart Clark, Jay Thorimbert, Jacob Dunbar and Nathan Grenon all scored for Ottawa. Thorimbert won the battle at the dot, winning 14 of 16 in draws in the absence of Trevor Baptiste.
In addition to Berg, Rob Hellyer, Ben McIntosh, Graydon Bradley and Matthew Wright, with his first career goal, scored for the Seals.
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