DEFENSE SHINES BUT FIREWOLVES FALL SHORT IN LOSS: BY THE NUMBERS PRESENTED BY STOREDTECH

Albany, NY – The Albany FireWolves fought their way back into a close game with the first place Toronto Rock, but ultimately fell to their rivals from the north. The FireWolves defense stepped up big to hold the Rock to 10 goals and made plays all over the floor to keep the game close. Let’s take a look at the key numbers from the FireWolves last regular season home game this past Saturday.  

1st Goal With The FireWolves For Anthony Joaquim 

Anthony Joaquim was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Mammoth back in December and has quickly become a leader on the defense with his experience and solid play. With the team down by a couple goals in the fourth quarter, Joaquim scooped a loose ball and made his way down the floor as he fired home a huge goal that was his first since joining the FireWolves. Getting a goal from a leader like Joaquim in such a big moment helped get the momentum going again for Albany and it will be crucial for defenders like him to contribute points in transition as the FireWolves get closer to the playoffs.  

3 Caused Turnovers By John Wagner 

John Wagner is another addition to the FireWolves as he was acquired in a trade from the Las Vegas Desert Dogs only a few weeks ago, but he has made an immediate impact. Wagner is very good on loose balls and is a great defender 1 on 1. Against Toronto, he caused 3 turnovers in big moments to give the FireWolves the ball back and give them chances to come back. His timing of his checks and lacrosse IQ for when to double team have been such a great addition to an already solid Albany defense. Having a defender like Wagner who can get the ball on the ground when they need it most is going to be big come playoff time.  

10 Loose Balls Career High In Game By Ethan Walker  

Ethan Walker may not have scored a goal against the Rock, but he was still able to make a big contribution by simply outworking the Toronto defense as he picked up a career high 10 loose balls in the game. Getting loose balls off rebounds or broken plays gives the offense another chance to score and often a new 30 second shot clock to work with. Walker is in his third NLL season and has been the leader of this young offense all season. He sets the perfect example for the group with his gritty hardworking play and his 72 points this season is a career high. But when it’s needed most Walker is willing to get to the tough areas and get the ball back for his team.  

The FireWolves have already clinched their NLL Playoff spot, but with two regular season home games remaining they now seek to secure a home playoff game. They will be back in action on the road against Panther City Lacrosse Club this Sunday at 5 pm ET. The game will be nationally televised and only available to watch on ESPNU. 

Come party with us at Recovery Sports Grill and cheer on the FireWolves on Sunday, April 14th as the FireWolves hit the road to take on Panther City! The party and the game begins at 5pm. We’ll see you at Recovery Sports Grill in Rensselaer, NY on April 14th!

About Albany FireWolves 

The Albany FireWolves is the Capital Region’s very own Professional Box Lacrosse team, playing in the National Lacrosse League out of the MVP Arena in downtown Albany, NY. For more information, contact the Albany FireWolves Front Office at (518) 362-4900 or visit AlbanyFireWolves.com. Follow the team on Facebook at facebook.com/AlbFireWolves, Twitter @AlbFireWolves, and Instagram @AlbFireWolves. 

About the National Lacrosse League 

The National Lacrosse League (NLL) is North America’s premier professional lacrosse league. Founded in 1986, the NLL ranks third in average attendance for pro indoor sports worldwide, behind only the NHL and NBA. The League is comprised of 15 franchises across the United States and Canada: Albany FireWolves, Buffalo Bandits, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Georgia Swarm, Halifax Thunderbirds, Las Vegas Desert Dogs, New York Riptide, Panther City Lacrosse Club (TX), Philadelphia Wings, Rochester Knighthawks, San Diego Seals, Saskatchewan Rush, Toronto Rock, and Vancouver Warriors. For more information, visit NLL.com and find @NLL on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

About MVP Arena 

MVP Arena is a full-service entertainment and sports facility featuring a wide variety of family shows, sporting events, trade shows and concerts. Owned by Albany County and managed by ASM Global, MVP Arena opened in 1990 and is home to the Albany FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League, the Albany Firebirds of the Arena Football League and the Division I Men’s College Basketball Siena Saints. For more information, please visit https://www.mvparena.com/