ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The Rochester Knighthawks used the second overall pick in the National Lacrosse League Entry Draft in September to select Stony Brook product Ryland Rees.

Rees is now making that pick pay off.

The 2019 America East Defensive Player of the Year tallied his first two career NLL goals on Saturday night as the expansion Knighthawks earned the franchise's first-ever victory, 13-12 against the Calgary Roughnecks.

"I'm happy about it," Rees said about the goals. "But, looking at the bigger picture, it's the first team win."



Rees had earned a Major League Lacrosse All-Star game selection last July as a member of the Boston Cannons.

He played for the Seawolves from 2016 through last season. He was an all-conference selection as a junior and senior long-stick midfielder. He completed his collegiate career with 15 goals, seven assists, 60 caused turnovers and 164 ground balls.

Rees isn't the first professional lacrosse player from his family, either.
 
His grandfather, Ronald Hemmerling, was enshrined in the British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame for lacrosse along with the rest of the 1964 Vancouver Carlings. His grandfather's team won its second straight Mann Cup as the senior men's box lacrosse champions in Canada that year.