Minnesota Swarm Host Colorado in Nationally Televised Regular Season Finale

April 26, 2012 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (8-7) is looking to finish the 2012 regular season on a positive note this Saturday when it hosts the Colorado Mammoth (11-4) at Treasure Island Field. Faceoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT and the game will be broadcast nationally on CBS Sports Network.

Saturday's game will serve as a precursor for what is to come in the opening round of the 2012 NLL Playoffs. Last weekend, Minnesota clinched the #3 seed in the West Division with its 15-10 win over Philadelphia and secured a road meeting with the #2 seed Mammoth on a date to be determined between May 4-6.

Before the two teams clash next weekend to start their journey towards a Champions Cup, they will first battle it out on national television with plenty still left to play for. Excluding Toronto who was not on Minnesota's schedule this season, Colorado is the lone squad the Swarm has yet to post a 'W' against this year. The Swarm has dropped both of their contests to the Mammoth this season, but previously held a five-game winning streak against Colorado from 2010-11.

"We're coming in just as prepared as we have been if not more than any other game," coach Joe Sullivan said. "It's important for us to go into the playoffs with momentum."

Colorado won the most recent meeting between the two teams back on Feb. 18 at Xcel Energy Center 12-7, but the final score was not indicative of how close the game actually was. With less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, the score was deadlocked at 7-7 until Colorado finished the game with five unanswered goals, several of which were empty netters.

"We were right there with them, but we fell apart at the end," Sullivan said. "I think we're a better team because of it. When you endure some losses, you're really able to focus on some things that you might not if you get a win. We've lived and learned through every loss we've had this year."

Sullivan likewise believes his young team has come a long ways since the two teams met during the first week of the NLL season on Jan 14. Minnesota lost 20-14 that night, but bounced back with its first career home win against Buffalo the following game and went on to finish the first half of the season 5-3. To this point, a league-high 12 rookies have seen floor time with the Swarm and have combined to record 67 goals, which is over a third of the team's 187 goals this season.

"We started off in Colorado and we were very raw," Sullivan said. "Our systems were just getting going. We're in a situation now where we feel real confident in our systems and the guys trust each other. They're playing with confidence and aggressiveness."

If there's one major storyline to watch for on Saturday night, it will certainly surround Mammoth F John Grant Jr. and his chase for the NLL single season points record. Grant Jr. currently sits at 110 points despite missing two games this season, and is six points shy of surpassing Bandits F John Tavares' mark of 115 points set back in 2010.

"It's going to be a real competitive game, and a real focused game," Sullivan said, "and then there's a lot of things going on behind the scenes with John Grant Jr. trying to break the points record, and on our side of it, it's getting to that 9-7 record that we've committed to."

Minnesota is also looking to finish the season 6-2 at home, which would tie a team record set back in 2008. Sullivan accredited his team's success at home this season to their commitment to staying focused and working together as a unit.

"The way that these guys have gelled and pushed each other every practice and shootaround... it's really only a matter of time before it starts to come to together and it's our intent that the time is now," Sullivan said.

Saturday's game marks the second straight season that the Swarm will host a game on national television. Sullivan said his team is excited to once again have the opportunity to show the country what the NLL and Minnesota lacrosse community are all about.

"These guys work 9-to-5 jobs. Some of them are construction guys, some are laborers, some of them are market traders, but they all have jobs," he said. "Essentially on Friday, they roll their sleeves up and come to play for the fans in Minnesota."

Grant Jr. won't be the only one chasing records on Saturday. Swarm rookie T Jordan MacIntosh, who has collected a team-high 140 loose balls on the season, is 13 loosies shy of setting a new record. Jay Thorimbert holds the franchise mark of 152 loose balls set in 2010.

The Swarm is currently the only team in the NLL with two goalies ranked in the Top 5 in GAA in Evan Kirk (9.81) and Tyler Carlson (11.90). Both rookies have posted four wins a piece this season and Kirk also leads the league in save percentage at .807. An aggressive, athletic defense has aided the duo and the unit ranks first in the league with 177 forced turnovers. Defenseman Jeff Gilbert has forced 25 of those turnovers, which is second best in the league.

After posting a career-high eight assists last weekend, F Callum Crawford continues to rank among the league leaders in assists with 54. The NLL's defending scoring champion, F Ryan Benesch, became the first Swarm player to reach the 30-goal mark last week after tying a season-high four goals. Forward Kevin Ross could also reach that feat this week. Ross has scored in every game this season and ranks second on the team with 27 goals.

Lower level tickets to the Swarm's final home game in 2012 start as low as $20 and can be purchased by calling 1-888-MN-SWARM or visiting mnswarm.com.



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