Black Wolves Edge Toronto

Black Wolves captain Sean Evans led the way with a three-goal, one-assist
effort to lead New England to a 15-14 victory over Toronto.

UNCASVILLE – Evan Kirk tied his own franchise record with 56 saves, and the New England Black Wolves took another step toward qualifying the National Lacrosse League playoffs, edging the Toronto Rock 15-14 at Mohegan Sun Arena on Sunday. It was the seventh one-goal game of the year for the Black Wolves, who are 5-2 in those contests.

Kirk, the reigning NLL Goaltender of the Year after setting a franchise record with 620 saves in 2016, was under siege throughout the match, facing a franchise record 70 shots. He had 50 saves on 58 shots through the first three quarters, coming up with one big stop after another.

Six different Black Wolves’ players had at least two goals, with Shawn Evans (three goals, one assist), leading the way. Evans, the overall No. 2 pick in the 2005 NLL Draft by the Rochester Knighthawks and perhaps the top box lacrosse player on the planet, picked up his fourth consecutive hat trick—his seventh of the season.

Teammates Kevin Crowley and Kyle Buchanan each added two goals and three assists, while Jay Thorimbert had his most productive offensive game as a member of the Black Wolves, finishing with two goals and two assists while also winning 18 of 33 face-offs. Daryl Veltman and Sheldon Burns each had two goals. Kevin Buchanan had one goal, but also collected four assists, giving him 38 on the year. That ties his single-season career high.

Toronto goalie Nick Rose—who began the day with an NLL-best 9.93 goals-against average—was pulled after surrendering goals to Burns and Reilly O’Connor in the last 1:06 of the third quarter. Rose was beaten for 11 goals on 35 shots. Burns and O’Connor’s tallies were followed by fourth-quarter goals from Kyle and Kevin Buchanan, pushing the New England lead to 13-8. But Toronto would not go down quietly, scoring six of the last eight goals in the contest—three by Reid Reinholdt in the last 2:11 of regulation.

The Black Wolves stopped the bleeding, however, when Burns converted a long outlet pass from Kirk sandwiched in-between the Reinholdt tallies—and that 15th goal proved to be the difference in the game.

Tom Schreiber led the Toronto with four goals and three assists, while Stephan Leblanc added three goals and three assists, and Kieran McArdle chipped in with three goals and one assist.

With the victory, the Black Wolves improved to 7-7, and put some distance between them selves and 5-5 Buffalo and 5-9 Rochester–both of whom lost on Saturday–in the race for the third and final playoff spot in the NLL East Division. The win also allowed New England to keep the pressure on second-place Toronto (8-7), by completing a two-game season sweep of the Rock.

Next up, the Black Wolves will entertain the Georgia Swarm on Friday night. Game time is 7:30 p.m., and it will be Native American Heritage Night at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

—Staff Reports