What a difference a week makes.

After failing to score until four minutes left in the second quarter last Sunday against the Whipsnakes in Hamilton, Ontario, the Redwoods sought to extend their playoff hopes and put last weekend’s 17-4 blowout loss and a three game losing streak behind them.

On this afternoon at the University at Albany, they looked like a different squad--perhaps even a championship contender. Sergio Perkovic powered his way to the goal and scored 23 seconds into the game. The midfielder from Notre Dame hadn’t scored in his past four contests. Pat Harbeson scored from the left wing on a fast break a little over a minute later and extended the Redwoods’ early lead.

You wouldn’t know the Chrome were eliminated from the playoffs last week from the energy and emotion they showed in the first half. Backup goalie Brett Queener started his first game this summer. Known for ranging far outside his crease when he played at UAlbany, Queener probably gave some fans at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium flashbacks when he ran the ball over the midline on several occasions. The first time he ventured into the offensive end, he passed to Jordan Wolf, who dodged underneath and scored on a dive to tie the game 2-2.

Queener brought the first quarter to a halt when he cross-checked Jules Heningburg in the helmet. Queener broke his shaft on the hit and knocked out Heningburg for the rest of the game with a concussion. That prompted a fight between Queener and Perkovic which then escalated and included most of the players on the field. After a few minutes for the officials to assess the situation, the skirmish resulted in over a dozen minutes of penalties--including eight for the blatant foul by Queener--and a Redwoods 5-4 power play.

The Redwoods went on a three goal run in the second quarter that included faceoff specialist Greg Gurenlian’s first goal of the season on a backhanded shot.

After going down in Week 8 with an ankle injury, attackman Matt Kavanagh scored a buzzer-beater bounce shot from several yards behind the two-point arc to give the Redwoods an 8-6 advantage at the half.

“Everyone has got to pick up the slack,” Kavanagh told NBC sideline reporter, Paul Burmeister, before the second half when asked how they’d make up for the loss of Heningburg. The last time these two clubs met, Heningburg had five goals and three assists. Entering this weekend he was tied for the second most goals in the league (21).

Kavanagh (4G, 1T), who was a game-time decision, followed his own advice. He pump faked and then shot low and away past Queener for the first goal of the second half. Ryder Garnsey collected a ground ball in traffic after the subsequent faceoff then distributed to Clarke Petterson, who put the Redwoods ahead 10-6.

Later in the quarter Garnsey tossed a one-handed pass across the crease to Kavanagh, who scored on a backhanded shot.

“Sick goal,” Redwoods LC defenseman Eddy Glazener, mic’d up for this game, told the NBC Sports broadcast team.

When he wasn’t offering commentary about his teammates, Glazener was quarterbacking the defense with a communication style that could best be described as profuse. His absence last week due to a shoulder injury he sustained against the Chaos in San Jose was a major reason why the club’s defense looked lost last week against the Whipsnakes. In the last three games, the Redwoods gave up an average of 16 goals.

“Nobody understands besides the Redwoods Lacrosse Club how important not having him on the field is gonna be,” St. Laurent said about Glazener before Week 9. “It hurts us a lot.”

The Redwoods held the Chrome scoreless in the third quarter and surrendered only a single goal in the second half. They kept the pressure on because of the all-important score differential. Entering the game with a -13 differential, they understood they needed to win by at least seven goals to edge ahead of the Atlas.

When Kyle Harrison sniped a shot from the left wing on a power play to put them ahead 13-6, the playoffs were within their grasp. All they had to do was hold on for the next 10 minutes.

Instead, they poured it on. Garnsey kept the show going when he scored a one-handed shot despite being draped by his defender. It was his third goal and sixth point of the game.

“Simply put, how did you do that?” NBC analyst Ryan Boyle asked Garnsey.

Garnsey added another goal and finished a dominant performance with four goals and three assists. The Redwoods kept rolling. Perkovic scored their final two goals and capped a hat-trick that lifted them ahead 18-7.

The Redwoods scored a season-high number of goals, held their opponent to a season low, and secured their largest margin of victory. They saved their best game for last.

Most importantly, they’ve clinched a playoff spot after looking like they had squandered their chances.

What a difference a week makes.