Shanks wins it for Rush; Smith & Fields Power Rochester
December 1, 2024By: Jon Rapoport
Rush Escape Albany With OT Win
The Saskatchewan Rush and Albany FireWolves hit the ground running in New York’s state capital, providing fans with an absolute thriller to start the season. OT in the first game? Yes, please. The Rush took home the 10-9 victory over the home team at MVP Arena.
Albany’s Ethan Walker opened what would be a see-saw affair, with both squads determined to begin their respective 2024-2025 journeys on a high note. The score stood 8-8 late in the fourth, when Jake Boudreau put the Rush ahead as little more than two minutes showed on the scoreboard. Then, with a mere 12 seconds remaining, Tye Kurtz connected on the equalizer, bringing the crowd to its feet as the hometown partisans were suddenly treated to some bonus lacrosse. Unfortunately for those hardy home fans, their exuberance would be short lived thanks to the Rush’s most notable offseason acquisition, Austin Shanks, who sealed the 10-9 victory for Saskatchewan, capping his first game in green and black with a stat line that featured two goals and two assists. Zach Manns was downright spectacular for the Saskatoon crew, tallying four scores and one helper. Rookie Brock Haley also brought the goods for Sask, blasting two goals just 23 seconds apart, and setting up three of his teammates’ efforts.
On the Albany side of the equation, defending Rookie of the Year Alex Simmons kept the good times rolling, securing three goals and four assists. Ethan Walker added one blast and four passes, while rookie phenom Dyson Williams got into the mix with a goal and assist. Only 1,151 more points for Williams to reach the goal his father set with the Buffalo Bandits.
Dyson Williams gets his 1st career goal for the @AlbFireWolves in our NLL Saturday Showcase!
Only 1,151 more points to equal his dad’s totals 😉
The Las Vegas Desert Dogs opened their third NLL season with a visit to Western New York and a battle with the high scoring and always entertaining Rochester Knighthawks. Like its Saturday counterpart 220 miles to the east in Albany, Blue Cross Arena diehards were treated to a back-and-forth battle of wills. Newly acquired Desert Dog Kyle Killen tied the contest 12-12 early in the final quarter, only to witness the Rochester combo of Connor Fields and Ryan Smith harvest the go-ahead and insurance scores midway through the final 15, securing a 14-12 triumph for the local guys.
10 points for #10 on opening night!?
Led by a 3-goal, 7-assist night from Connor Fields, the Knighthawks take down the Desert Dogs 14-12.
Fields was not of this planet on Saturday, scoring three goals and facilitating an astonishing seven assists. Not to be outdone, the aforementioned Smith nabbed eight points of his own, with a spectacular five goals and three set-ups. Ryan Lanchbury contributed one goal and six helpers and Thomas McConvey did his part with two lamp lighters and three slick dishes. Knighthawks goalie Riley Hutchcraft came up big when it counted most, only allowing two Las Vegas goals in the decisive fourth stanza.
On the Sin City side of the spectrum, young star Jack Hannah walloped four goals and two assists, while teammate Casey Jackson etched four total points to his sterling resume. Recent Southern Nevada arrival Jonathan Donville was in a very giving mood in the season opener, handing out six connectors to his brand-new running mates. Talk about a little Vegas hospitality!
Seals Outlast Wings In Wild Sunday Matchup
Week 1 of the 2024-2025 NLL season concluded on a beautiful 70-degree day in San Diego and this one was as hot as the Southern California sun. Philadelphia came out flying, jumping out to a 5-1 and 7-2 lead. San Diego then abruptly righted the ship, battling their way back to take an 11-9 advantage into the dressing room at halftime. The game’s third verse was hotly contested before the Seals’ Adam Noakes provided the go-ahead conquest, eventually resulting in an 18-15 victory. This game was nonstop excitement!
San Diego was led by a trio of new arrivals in town, as living legend Ryan Benesch procured five goals and four assists, with Rob Hellyer adding three scores and three helpers, while Ben McIntosh boasted of four blasts and two gifts to his teammates. The Seals highly aggressive offseason has already paid dividends for Patrick Merrill’s club.
In the highest scoring game of Faceoff Weekend, @SealsLax defeat @NLLwings 18-15 in a wild shootout.
Philly’s stars also blazed brilliantly in the West Coast matinee with Mitch Jones nabbing three goals and five assists, Holden Cattoni garnering four and two, while Joe Resetarits was on the positive side of five total points.
Rookie extraordinaire Brennan O’Neill debuted in style for the Wings, finding the back of the net in the first, amid assisting on three additional igniting moments on the scoreboard.
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