MINNESOTA – In National Lacrosse League action, Paul Dawson of the Rochester Knighthawks lost not only his cool in the overtime period of Friday night’s game, but the game, too.
The visiting Minnesota Swarm took advantage of the extra man to score the game winner at 2:21 of the extra frame with a score of 7-6.
The Swarm took a 2-1 first quarter lead, which Logan Schuss increased to 5-1 with three back-to-back goals in the second period. After the half time intermission, the Knighthawks turned on the power, scoring all five third quarter goals unanswered.
Joe Walker, Dan Dawson, Cody Jamieson, Craig Point and Dawson’s second of the quarter took a 6-5 lead with 15 minutes remaining in regulation play.
Close checking and some great saves allowed for only one goal in the fourth quarter. Minnesota’s Andrew Suitor scored at 8:56, unassisted, to send the game into OT.
Callum Crawford scored the powerplay OT goal, which would stand as the game winner at 2:21 of the extra time.
Jamieson earned two goals and two assists, while Craig Point netted one goal and three assists in the Rochester loss.
“To not only fight through it, but to go into overtime with the composure and resiliency that they’ve shown all year and bury that late shot,” said Swarm head coach Joe Sullivan. “It’s an invaluable win, it really is.”
In other NLL action on Saturday, the Buffalo Bandits robbed by the Calgary Roughnecks 15-14 in overtime. Dhane Smith had a huge game for Buffalo with a 10-pointer on five goals and five assists.
Rochester and Buffalo go at it in Buffalo Saturday Feb. 14th, and although it is Valentine’s Day, there will be no love lost between these two NLL rivals.
