Knighthawks Round Up Bandits
By: Thad Brown
Updated: March 11, 2012
Goalie Matt Vinc used one of the best performances of his
seven-year pro career this afternoon to lead the Rochester Knighthawks
to a 13-10 victory over the rival Buffalo Bandits.
"Vno" turned away 54 shots as he backstopped the Knighthawks to a 5-5 record and sole possession of second place in the East Division. The win was the team's third straight at home and gave the Knighthawks their first two-game winning streak of the season. It was a fitting tribute to the woman that convinced Vinc to pursue lacrosse, his mother, JoAnne.
"It was huge. See is probably just as nervous as I am before the game. She wants me to do well," said Vinc, who dedicated the win to his mom, as a birthday gift, during the postgame on-floor interview. "Any time I can do that for her and make her day it's a great feeling, especially because she has been so supportive during my lacrosse career."
Vinc got help in the form of Cody Jamieson (3+3), Johnny Powless (3+1) and Mike Accursi (0+6). Accursi reached two milestones tonight, hitting 300 points as a Knighthawk and 400 assists as a pro. He earned four of those assists in a 7-0 second quarter as Rochester broke open a 3-3 game.
In the second, Craig Point gave Rochester the lead with a dive from the right post to beat Mike Thompson. Powless and Jamieson connected to make it 6-3 and Buffalo turned to Anthony Cosmo in goal. The Knighthawks kept coming with goals by Brad Self, Jordan Hall and two goals from Cory Vitarelli. Self's shorthanded goal extended his goal-scoring streak to six games.
The Knighthawks increased their lead to 12-4 in the third on a power-play goal by rookie Stephen Keogh at 8:42. Mark Steenhuis (2+1) scored a goal to end the third and one to begin the fourth to trim the deficit to 12-6. Buffalo outscored Rochester 5-1 in the fourth, but Vinc helped Rochester earn the home win.
Luke Wiles led the Bandits with six points (1+5), while John Tavares recorded two goals and two assists. Roger Vyse also chipped in one goal and three assists. Buffalo travels to the Air Canada Centre to face the Toronto Rock on Friday, March 16th. Buffalo is a riding a franchise-record six-game losing streak.
Rochester will host the defending champion Rock on Saturday, March 24th at 7:30 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.
"Vno" turned away 54 shots as he backstopped the Knighthawks to a 5-5 record and sole possession of second place in the East Division. The win was the team's third straight at home and gave the Knighthawks their first two-game winning streak of the season. It was a fitting tribute to the woman that convinced Vinc to pursue lacrosse, his mother, JoAnne.
"It was huge. See is probably just as nervous as I am before the game. She wants me to do well," said Vinc, who dedicated the win to his mom, as a birthday gift, during the postgame on-floor interview. "Any time I can do that for her and make her day it's a great feeling, especially because she has been so supportive during my lacrosse career."
Vinc got help in the form of Cody Jamieson (3+3), Johnny Powless (3+1) and Mike Accursi (0+6). Accursi reached two milestones tonight, hitting 300 points as a Knighthawk and 400 assists as a pro. He earned four of those assists in a 7-0 second quarter as Rochester broke open a 3-3 game.
In the second, Craig Point gave Rochester the lead with a dive from the right post to beat Mike Thompson. Powless and Jamieson connected to make it 6-3 and Buffalo turned to Anthony Cosmo in goal. The Knighthawks kept coming with goals by Brad Self, Jordan Hall and two goals from Cory Vitarelli. Self's shorthanded goal extended his goal-scoring streak to six games.
The Knighthawks increased their lead to 12-4 in the third on a power-play goal by rookie Stephen Keogh at 8:42. Mark Steenhuis (2+1) scored a goal to end the third and one to begin the fourth to trim the deficit to 12-6. Buffalo outscored Rochester 5-1 in the fourth, but Vinc helped Rochester earn the home win.
Luke Wiles led the Bandits with six points (1+5), while John Tavares recorded two goals and two assists. Roger Vyse also chipped in one goal and three assists. Buffalo travels to the Air Canada Centre to face the Toronto Rock on Friday, March 16th. Buffalo is a riding a franchise-record six-game losing streak.
Rochester will host the defending champion Rock on Saturday, March 24th at 7:30 p.m. at The Blue Cross Arena.
