SAINT PAUL, MN - The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm
(1-4) suffered a tough loss to the undefeated Washington Stealth (6-0)
by a score of 12-9, in front of 3,526 fans in Comcast Arena at Everett
Friday night. The western rivals will face off in a rematch next
Saturday at Xcel Energy Center.The Swarm battled hard all night and played solid defensively along with F Callum Crawford's five points (3g, 2a) and F Tim Campeau's four assists. G Nick Patterson made 38 saves.
The Washington Stealth entered Friday's game with the best offense in the NLL but the Swarm held its ground. The league's top point-scorer and reigning Offensive Player of the Week, Washington F Jeff Zywicki (4g, 4a) scored less than one minute into the contest. Minnesota answered back with its own offensive weapons: F Aaron Wilson (2g, 1a) got the Swarm on the scoreboard with a goal right around the crease area. Crawford, Minnesota's leading scorer, followed up with another tally late in the first quarter to tie the game at 2-2. The Stealth would sneak in a power-play goal with six seconds left to finish the first quarter up 3-2.
Minnesota continued to get into penalty trouble during the second quarter, allowing another one of the Stealth's top scorers, F Rhys Duch (3g, 4a), to get on the board. Swarm D Kevin Ross (1g, 0a) scored an acrobatic, unconventional goal, jumping from behind the net and shooting it off the back of Washington G Matt Roik. It proved to be a real momentum changer; Crawford ripped one for his second of the night just seconds later to tie it at 4-4. The Stealth took a brief lead before Crawford answered with the hat trick, a shorthanded goal late in the first half. Washington went into the break with another power-play goal and a 6-5 lead.
Before play even started in the second half, D Ryan Cousins fought Stealth D Eric Martin - both were ejected. Zywicki continued his offensive prowess, echoing the start of the game with a goal in the first minute. Wilson scored the Swarm's sixth goal of the night shortly after.
Minnesota got a glorious opportunity when Washington's Paul Rabil received a game misconduct, including five-minute major and two-minute minor penalties, giving the Swarm a seven-minute power play. F Sean Pollock (1g, 1a) tied it up but Roik made numerous key saves to keep it that way.
Duch tallied another two goals for the Stealth and Washington's high-powered offense proved too much for Minnesota in the fourth quarter, despite another goal from Wilson and a strong game from Patterson. The Swarm kept it close but could never take the lead in a back-and-forth, physical match-up.
The Swarm will host the Washington Stealth for a rematch on Saturday, February 13 at 7:35 p.m. CST at Xcel Energy Center. Lower level single game tickets can be purchased for as low as $24 for each of the eight 2010 home games. Tickets are available online at mnswarm.com or by calling 888-MN-SWARM.
Girls and coaches - don't miss out on the Swarm's lacrosse clinics on Saturday, February 13, when the Notre Dame women's lacrosse coaching staff will conduct exclusive clinics including drills, games and classroom sessions before the Swarm square off against Washington. Tickets to the game are included in the registration. Sign up online at mnswarm.com. Fans in attendance at the game will have a chance to win in-game prizes, including jewelry, getaways and more to celebrate Say I Do night at Xcel Energy Center. Fans can also participate in a poker tournament at the arena sponsored by Running Aces.
• Discuss this story on the National Lacrosse League message board...
• Digg this story
• Add to Del.icio.us
National Lacrosse League Stories from February 6, 2010
• Knighthawks scorched by Blazers - Rochester Knighthawks• Rock have undefeated weekend to advance to 5-1 - Toronto Rock
• Blazers Top Knighthawks 14-8 for Third Straight Win - NLL
• Knighthawks Deal For Veteran Transition Man Chris Driscoll - Rochester Knighthawks
• Bandits Acquire Draft Selections In 2010 And 2012 - Buffalo Bandits
• Washington Stealth Win 12-9 To Remain Undefeated - Washington Stealth
• Solid performance not enough to beat best in the West - Minnesota Swarm
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
