HAWKEYES ESCAPE WITH WIN OVER ARMORY

(Rochester, NY)… The Hawkeyes used a late three-goal run to knock off the Armory 10-7 Thursday night. The regular-season finale between the two teams was the closest contest yet. 

“I look at it like – we needed one of these games – especially heading into the playoffs in a couple of weeks. I keep telling our team not to look at our record. It is what it is. Let’s focus on ourselves,” Hawkeyes head coach Dan Coates said about the game being closer than the previous matchups. “It was good to be in a competitive game just to feel that – ‘Okay, we’re down, we gotta get back in it, they’re throwing a punch, we’re throwing a punch.’ If we get to the playoffs, this is what it’s going to come down to.”

The Hawkeyes improved to 5-0 with the win, while the Armory fell to 1-4. The Hawkeyes were led as usual by the Limestone pairing of Zach Terry (3+3) and Nate Senez (2+3). Although their combined 24 points against the Rapids were nothing compared to theirs, it was still a dominant day for the duo. 

Thomas Gravino (2+1) and Matthew Blythe (1+1) have been key to that, allowing the left and right sides to mirror each other with Blythe down low as a lefty opposite Senez and Gravino up high as a righty mirroring Terry. The Hawkeyes were reinforced in net for their final game at The Blue Cross Arena, with John Jacobs making his return to the crease with 28 saves. 

“We’ve got tremendous depth, and I think that really showed; I think some guys stepped up; Titus (Chapman) had a really good game, really showed what he can do getting to the middle and scored a big goal for us,” Hawkeyes offensive coordinator Thomas McConvey said. “We always knew we had tremendous depth, we had guys step up early in the season, and now we’re seeing those other guys step up.”

The Armory was led by its on-ball righties. Alec Constable (2+3) had five points, while Clifford Gaston notched a hat trick. Sam Bennett and Aidan Cawley drove transition, each tallying two assists. Will Dempsey put on a show with 42 saves, but the 52 shots from the Hawkeyes were too much to overcome. The Armory also had some reinforcements, adding forward Pavel Srch and goaltender Josef Slavik to the roster from the Czech Republic. 

“It’s a learning curve a little bit. It was just the second time with us was tonight,” Armory head coach Jordan Jarvis said about Srch joining the forward group. “So, I think with time, he’ll find his spot on the floor and be able to contribute for us.”

It was a close first 45 minutes between the two Rochester teams. No team led by more than a goal and it was the Armory that took the lead first. Despite the Hawkeyes dominating possession, it just took one shot in transition for the Armory to get on the board from Jett Richardsen. The Hawkeyes found their offense in the next possession as they swung the rock north to south with Terry pulling out of a shot and feeding Senez on the crease. 

Both defensive groups were shut down through the first quarter. It wasn’t until the power play that the Hawkeyes were able to take the lead, 2-1. Gravino ripped from up high, thanks to Senez and Blythe’s passing down low to draw attention. 

The Armory responded with two goals to open the second for the lead again, this time with their offense. Gaston scored his first from the top of the key, and Constable scored next down low. Terry had a quick answer as he scooped up a close rebound on the next possession and dove across the crease for the goal. 

The game was tied at four a minute later as Gaston drove behind the Hawkeyes' net and snuck in the dunk passed Jacobs. Both defensive units were coming up with stops, but the Hawkeyes were on the hunt all night for loose balls and it allowed them to extend their shot clocks throughout the game. Despite that, there was no doubt it was the strongest effort this season by the Armory against the Hawkeyes.

“Our defense was more in tune with each other; they had assignments that they were working toward, and they nailed what they were supposed to do,” Jarvis said. “Our goalie played really well, and our defense was just really honed in on their job situations.”

The Armory found a stride between Gaston and Constable in the second, and they rode it into the half with a 5-4 lead. Unfortunately, they didn’t find the back of the net at even strength again in the game. 

“It’s just showing up for your team, and when guys see that they’re putting their body on the line, it just kind of juices the boys up.” Hawkeyes head coach Dan Coates said about the defense blocking shots. “We needed something to spark us a bit, and I think this is great.” 

Between the defensive adjustments and Terry coming into the quarter like he was shot out of a cannon, the Hawkeyes never looked back after they took the lead in the third quarter. 

“Coach Coates was big on not looking at the scoresheets from the other games,” Senez said. “On Monday, he told us when we were here in the BCA that Thursday was going to be a battle for the whole game. At halftime, he told us to pick up our energy and keep playing Hawkeyes’ lacrosse.” 

Terry tied the game as the finisher of a perfect offensive set. He got open at the top of the key and caught the skip pass from Senez without a thought in the world other than a corner of the net. He then took the lead with his second unassisted goal of the night to finish the hat trick. 

Although the Armory was slowing down, they got help from the Hawkeyes thanks to a delay of game call. It took almost no time for Gaston to bury a dunk and finish his hat trick. Just after his goal, Gaston got into some extra-curriculars. He and Ian Kane got tied up in front of the benches and wrestled to the ground. The coincidental major penalties for roughing set up a 4-on-4 situation.

The Hawkeyes were primed for the set, with Gravino and Senez mirroring Terry and Blythe. Terry scooped a rebound and found Blythe fully loaded with his stick up high on the crease. Blythe buried it for a 7-6 Hawkeyes lead.

The Armory, however, tied the contest at seven early in the fourth. Newcomer Srch scored on the power play from the inside, catching a dime from Constable. That was the last Armory goal of the day. 

Meanwhile, the Hawkeyes buried three more. Gravino and Terry combined for the game-winner with just under 10 minutes to go, while Titus Chapman and Ben McGrath added the icing for a 10-7 final.

Both teams will play the remainder of their games at the Classic Rink in East Aurora. On July 22, the Armory will take on the Buffaloes, and the Hawkeyes will face the Rapids. The Mearns Cup playoffs start on August 1.