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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, May 15, 2013 | 24 Knighthawks gained momentum in playoffs after barely qualifying continued from p.23 "It was tough at the start," said Dawson, who sits seventh on the league's all-time scoring list. "I was a little laid back at the beginning. They were the defending champions so I thought I would try to fit in where they need me. But that's not me. I was too passive and it hurt the team." He snapped out of the funk with a four-goal, 11-point game against his former team, the Philadelphia Wings. Dawson would go on to average five points a game the rest of the season, finishing with 75 points. On Saturday in the championship game, Dawson had a goal and four assists, continuing a career-long trend of outstanding post-season play. Though he's averaged 5.06 points per game in the regular season, he's scored at a clip of 6.56 in the playoffs, when it's supposed to be harder to score. Dawson, a fire fighter in Brampton, attributes it to being in good shape, something that has also allowed him to play in 179 consecutive games, the fourth-longest streak in league history. Brothers Paul and Dan Dawson (left and right, respectively) pose with their father, Joe, after "I think it's living a healthy, active life," he said. "Lahelping the Rochester Knighthawks win the National Lacrosse League championship Saturday crosse is hard on the body so by training and eating in Langley, B.C. | photo courtesy of National Lacrosse League well, I think I'm able to surpass guys when it counts." Paul began his NLL career as a goalie with San Jose before converting to a defender early in his career. He had been to the playoffs four times in six years, but had never won a post-season game. Rochester certainly improved those odds, but he may still be waiting if not for the win over Buffalo in the final week of the season. That win also served as a spark for the team, though. "The last game of the season, having to win that game to get in, it was like `the playoffs start now,'" he said. "We had a good run down the stretch and winning another close one there propelled us into the playoffs." Dawson's efforts on the defensive end were certainly key as Rochester recorded five of its 11 wins this seaPaul Dawson son by a single goal, and two more NLL champion by two-goal margins. He also made a key offensive contribution in the Knighthawks' playoff opener. He scored the winning goal in a 10-8 win over Philadelphia. "The stars aligned for me," he said. "Playing my former team -- I don't put that many balls in the net but I had a chance and I made the most of it. It's nice to contribute at that end as well because as a D guy, you don't get noticed much out there." Having to win that (last) game to get in, it was like `the playoffs start now.'