WINGS LOSE TO KNIGHTHAWKS, 20-14
April 15, 2000
As a new millennium dawned, it was possible for something new
to happen in the Flower City with their pro lacrosse team. There
was a chance the Rochester Knighthawks could’ve missed the
playoffs for the first time in the team’s now six-year
history. But, rookie John Grant, Jr. made sure the chance was
about as real as any Y2K mayhem by registering ten points in
leading the K’Hawks to a 20-14 win over the Philadelphia
Wings before 10,627 in Blue Cross Arena tonight.
The win, coupled with Buffalo’s victory in Albany tonight,
gave Rochester (8-4) a date with the Bandits next Friday night (April
21 at 8:00 p.m.) at HSBC Arena in the NLL Semi-Finals. The Wings
(7-5), who had clinched a playoff spot one week ago tonight, will
travel to Maple Leaf Gardens to take on the defending champion
Toronto Rock the next day (April 22 at 3:00 p.m.).
Rochester’s Pat McCready was tonight’s Game MVP,
registering three goals and three assists. Every Knighthawk
player -- including goalie Pat O’Toole -- had at least one
point. The Wings were led by Tom Marechek’s nine points (4+5)
and Mark Millon’s eight (4+4).
The Knighthawks finished as the league’s hottest team with
their fifth straight win, which avenged a 15-12 loss to the Wings
in Week 4 at the First Union Center. This was Rochester’s
second consecutive 8-4 season, while Philadelphia reversed last
season’s 5-7 mark.
The crowd at tonight’s game was the largest in Rochester
team history.
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