Buffalo's lacrosse team started off their season with a win at their first home game on Saturday, Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., when the Bandits beat the Calgary Roughnecks 10-9.
Going to the Bandits' game has always been a family tradition for the King's. Through my father's work, he receives season tickets with phenomenal seats, first row, right by the glass!
Personally, I have never played on a lacrosse team but, honestly, you don't need to have any prior lacrosse experience. You just need to know the basic rules of the game, so you aren't completely lost, and it is fun for everyone!
Here are some quick lacrosse rules that help to know. The game is 60 minutes long, divided into four 15 minute quarters with six players on each team at a time. When a team has possession of the ball they have 30 seconds to score on the opposing team's goal. When that 30 seconds is up a horn will sound and the ball possession is given to the other teams offense and then they have 30 seconds to score. For a team to score they need to use their lacrosse stick to launch the ball into the net and their feet need to be outside of the line that surrounds the net and the goalie, or the crease. If a player shoots the ball in the net and they were standing in the crease the point is void. Once a team scores they face off at the center line and it starts all over again.
Nothing can compare to rush you get while you are a Bandits' game -- the music, the cheers, the noise, the excitement, the camaraderie. Lacrosse is one of the only sports where music is played throughout the game, and personally, I feel it adds to the excitement.
Throughout the entire event, there are giveaways and games that some lucky fans can be apart of. Moe's has a deal where if the Bandits score 10 points, the very next day, any fan with a ticket can get an entree for 50 percent off. When the Bandits score 10 the entire arena shouts, "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9! We want Moe's!"
Some funny antic will usually happen during a Bandits' game. During this particular game, there happened to be some mess up with the nets and when a man in a suit was walking backward with the correct net, he tripped and fell. Instead of the masses worrying about his safety, we all erupted in laughter at the poor man's sake.
But anyways, the Bandits are a great team and they really proved it this first game and I can't wait to see how they do the rest of the season. But check out a Bandits' game if you have a free night, it will definitely be worth it.
