The Boston Rockhoppers came into Freedom Hall on Friday night to take on the Kentucky Stickhorses in the first official intraleague game in North American Lacrosse League history. The contest was the fourth for the Kentucky Stickhorses in the Pro Invitational Season of the NALL, and the inaugural game for Boston.

The Stickhorses started in familiar fashion, going down 2-0 within the first 5 minutes. Like previous games, penalties were a recurrent problem for Kentucky in the opening quarter. The Stickhorses amassed 14 penalty minutes in the first quarter, including a 4-minute double major to defender Mike Unterstein and the first-ever penalty shot for both the Stickhorses and the NALL. Starting goaltender Ginny Capicchioni kept the Stickhorses in contention with 22 saves in the first half, including a save on the penalty shot.

Down 3-1 at the end of the first quarter, the Stickhorses exploded for 6 goals and no penalties in the second quarter. Boston battled through 8 penalty minutes of their own and even managed to exploit the Stickhorses for 2 shorthanded goals. Led by Andrew Wasik's first-half leading 3 goals, Boston managed to go into halftime down by only 1 goal 9-8.
Boston scored the first goal of the second half less than thirty seconds in on a breakdown by Kentucky goaltender Patrick Crosby. Kentucky came out of halftime with the decisive edge in energy and momentum, but Boston was finding the middle of the floor for high percentage shots. The score went back and forth before ending the third quarter at 13-12 with Kentucky again up by 1.

The Stickhorses then ran away with the game in the closing quarter, doubling Boston's scoring output as Crosby settled in for Kentucky and Boston goalie Vincent Talbot tired from the continuing onslaught. Kentucky's energy proved the difference in the 4th quarter as they fought through an additional 4 penalties plus another penalty shot for too many players on the floor while killing a penalty. Kentucky answered Boston's three 4th quarter goals with 6 of their own, including 2 short-handed goals and 2 electrifying breakaway goals by transition player Dave McCarthy and recently-signed defenseman Steve Panarelli. The Kentucky Stickhorses emerged victorious in the inaugural NALL battle 19-15.

Joel Derechinsky exploded for 7 goals for the Stickhorses. David Mitchell and Joel Zalesky each contributed 4 points (3 goals and 1 assist). For Boston, leading scorers included Andrew Wasik with 5 points (4-1) and Jamie Plunkett with 3 points (3-0). Capicchioni and Crosby combined for 50 saves for Kentucky and Talbot posted 22 saves for Boston.

Boston and Kentucky face each other again on April 7th in Louisville in the finale of the NALL Pro Invitational Season. The Kentucky Stickhorses' next game is March 16th at 7pm at Freedom Hall in Louisville.

Scoring Summary, end of quarters:
1 - 3-1 Boston
2 - 9-8 Kentucky
3 - 13-12 Kentucky
4 - 19-15 Kentucky

Saves:
KY - Capicchioni (1st half) 22 saves
KY - Crosby (2nd half) 28 saves
Boston - Talbot (game) 22 saves

Scoring - Kentucky - Total points (Goals-Assists):
11 Derechinsky - 7 (7-0)
19 Zalesky - 4 (3-1)
24 Mitchell - 4 (3-1)
13 Dube - 2 (1-1)
14 Malampy - 2 (2-0)
21 O'Brien - 1 (1-0)
23 McCarthy - 1 (1-0)
22 Panarelli - 1 (1-0)
28 Caufield - 3 (0-3)
44 Bice - 1 (0-1)

Scoring - Boston:
13 Plunkett - 3 (3-0)
88 - 4 (4-0)
2 Wasik - 5 (4-1)
44 - 2 (2-0)
10 - 1 (1-0)
22 - 1 (1-0)

Penalties:
Kentucky - 15 penalties for 28 minutes and 2 penalty shots
Boston - 14 penalties for 30 minutes