Buffalo Bandits Youth Lacrosse
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Back From the Break: Divisions Settle In as Playoff Push Begins
After a brief pause for the holiday break, teams returned to action this week eager to shake off the rust and set the tone for the stretch run. Early games served as a measuring stick of which squads were ready to hit the ground running—and which still had some recalibrating to do. From balanced scoring performances to an overtime thriller, the first week back delivered plenty to build on as the playoff picture begins to take shape.
Stampede Pull Away Late to Defeat Buffaloes 8–4 (Grade 5/6 Division)
Nash Geier opened the scoring for the Buffaloes in what started as a back-and-forth affair. Thomas Scanlan of the Stampede answered, and the teams traded goals before the Stampede went on a decisive four-goal run they never looked back from. The Stampede were led by Rex McComber’s two goals and two assists, while six other Stampede players chipped in with goals. Raylon Hill stood tall in net, stopping 16 of the 20 shots he faced. Up next for both teams are full-team practice sessions before the league moves into the heart of the playoff push.
Rapids Surge Early, Roll Past Blizzard 10–4 (Grade 5/6 Division)
The Rapids improved to 3–1 on the season after jumping out to a 4–0 lead early. The Blizzard cut the deficit in half on goals by Evan Boorman and Xavier Rojas, but three-point performances from Keegan Rajk (0G, 3A), Gavin Mazur (2G, 1A), and Easton Carpenter (3G) proved too much to handle. Rapids goalies Xander Ferguson and Gavin Snyder combined for 18 saves on 22 shots to secure the win. For the Blizzard, goalie Brixton White was kept busy facing 26 shots, while Evan Boorman paced the offense with two goals. Both teams will regroup in practice next week before the Blizzard look to rebound against the Stampede on January 19th.
Gajkowski’s OT Winner Keeps Pythons Perfect in 9–8 Thriller (Grade 7/8 Division)
The most exciting game of the night was saved for last, as this overtime classic saw the Pythons remain undefeated and all but lock up the top seed in the division. The Pythons carried a 5–2 lead into the second period, but the Thunderhawks responded with a strong frame of their own to tie the game at six. Each team added two goals in the final period before Gavin Gajkowski played hero, scoring the game-winner midway through overtime. Snyder Pragle recorded a hat trick for the Thunderhawks, while Logan Stubley and Dominick Velardo each added two goals. Three Pythons posted multi-goal performances to help seal the victory. Both teams return to practice next week, with the Thunderhawks set to face the Glaciers and the Stealth squaring off against the Pythons on January 19th.