The Knighthawks Retire Grant Jr.’S Number But Fall To Georgia

Before their game against the Georgia Swarm on Saturday, Rochester honored a Knighthawks legend, John Grant Jr. by retiring his jersey #24. Grant Jr. was drafted by Rochester who made him their first overall pick back in 1999 in the Lacrosse League Entry Draft. Grant Jr. would spend 11 of his 18 NLL professional seasons in Rochester. Grant Jr. would leave as the all-time leader in goals with 433, and points with 894. His 461 assists in Rochester were good enough to make him 2nd all-time in Knighthawks History. To add on to his storied history in Rochester, Grant Jr. in 2007 won a NLL MVP and a NLL Championship with the Knighthawks.

Now the first quarter saw the Knighthawks off to a slow start. After a goal by Kyle Jackson to tie it at 1-1, the Swarm were able to score 3 straight goals to make it 4-1. Joe Resetarits was able to get the Knighthawks within 2 with his 9th goal of the season but an illegal substitution penalty by the Knighthawks led to a Swarm power play goal right before time expired in the first quarter. At the end of the first the Swarm led 5-2.

The Knighthawks would find themselves fighting back in the second quarter with two quick goals coming from Cory Vitarelli and Austin Shanks to make it 5-4. After a goal from Jerome Thompson to make it 6-4, Georgia, Cody Jamieson tacked on a goal to get the Knighthawks to back within one at 6-5. After a pair of goals from the Swarm, Austin Shanks tacked on his second goal of the game to make it 8-6 which would also be the score at halftime.

The third quarter would see very little action offensively until Georgia would score 3 straight goals to start the scoring in the second half near the end of the 3^rd quarter. Cory Vitarelli scored his second goal of the night to make the score 11-7 going into the 4th quarter.

After a goal by Georgia at the start of the 4th. Rochester went on a little bit of an offensive surge to attempt a comeback with goals coming from Resetarits, Vitarelli, a pair from Shanks, and Kyle Jackson. Georgia however would have offensive answers of their own and would beat the Knighthawks 16-12.

The Georgia Swarm improve their record to (7-2) while the Knighthawks drop to (2-5). The Knighthawks need to find a consistent win streak soon to steady the course for this season. With a loss also coming from Philadelphia on Friday night in overtime the Knighthawks find themselves second to last in the East Standings. Next week they will be in Connecticut to face off against the New England Black Wolves (3-3) at Mohegan Sun Arena. Faceoff is set for 7 P.M ET