Sports stats



Two late goals propel Swarm into three-game winning streak

February 27, 2010 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL, MN - After beating the Colorado Mammoth (2-6) for the first time in franchise history last Saturday, the National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (4-4) continued their winning ways in front of 15,427 at Pepsi Center, stunning the Mammoth with a 13-12 victory in thrilling fashion.

Last week's win set a franchise record for the Swarm's greatest margin of victory, defeating Colorado by 10 points. That would not be the case Saturday night as Colorado came out with something to prove.

Down 12-11 with two minutes to play, F Ryan Benesch (2g, 2a) and F Tim Campeau (2g, 3a) stunned Colorado with two goals for another Swarm victory. Minnesota extended its winning streak to three games and have climbed back to the .500 mark after a rough 1-4 start.

F Aaron Wilson notched seven points (3g, 4a). F Callum Crawford, who was named NLL Overall Player of the Week on Wednesday, posted seven points (1g, 6a) on the night. G Nick Patterson stopped 38 shots for the victory.

T Ryan Sharp (2g, 0a), a late roster addition before the game, was active on all fronts and scored the Swarm's first goal of the game - his first of the season. F Sean Pollock (1g, 1a) snuck behind Colorado's defenders and finished with some nifty stick work to tie it 2-2. Minnesota took its first lead of the game when Sharp capitalized on a fast-break opportunity and buried one all alone on the Colorado goaltender.

Wilson and Crawford began the second-quarter scoring with power-play goals, developing a three-goal cushion for the Swarm. D Eric Pacey (0g, 0a) and Colorado T Cliff Smith (1g, 0a) dropped the gloves shortly after but Minnesota kept on coming; Wilson added his second goal of the night with a blast from the perimeter and then completed the hat trick - all with the man advantage.

The Mammoth would not go quietly. Colorado's captain, F Brian Langtry (3g, 3a), tallied two goals to stop the bleeding and the two squads ended the half with Minnesota up 8-5. The Mammoth came out flying with three straight tallies to tie it up.

Colorado regained the lead under Langtry's hat trick but another Swarm roster addition, Dan Marohl (1g, 2a), tied the game with a power-play marker. Minnesota's power play punished the Mammoth all night long, going 4-for-6 with the man advantage. Down by one with two minutes left, Benesch and Campeau stunned the Pepsi Center and Minnesota began its four-game road trip with a huge victory.

The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm will be pretty in pink (and black) against the Edmonton Rush on Saturday, April 3 at 7:35 p.m. CST at Xcel Energy Center. The team will wear eye-catching pink and black uniforms in addition to specially-made pink Reebok helmets for Hive Cares night. A percentage of the proceeds will benefit local charities.

Purchase the Onword Spirit "Swarm On" T-Shirt Ticket Package for $25 and receive a ticket to the game along with a special commemorative Hive Cares T-shirt, $3 of which will go to the Grace Fund on behalf of Julie Johnson. Tickets are available online at mnswarm.com or by calling 888-MN-SWARM.

Fans can watch Minnesota's next game on Saturday, March 13 at 6:00 p.m. CST against the Philadelphia Wings LIVE on mnswarm.com with Swarm Vision and can also join the Swarm's gameday blog powered by CoveritLive for additional insights on the action. Fans not near a computer during the game can text "SWARM TURF" to 91944 to receive halftime and final score updates.

Lower level single game tickets can be purchased for as low as $24 to each of the remaining four 2010 home games. Tickets are available online at mnswarm.com or by calling 888-MN-SWARM.



National Lacrosse League Stories from February 27, 2010


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.

OurSports Central