Minnesota Swarm Hosts San Jose in Home Opener Saturday

January 6, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm will play its first home game of the 2009 NLL season Saturday vs. San Jose, 7:00 p.m. at the Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota is 3-0 all-time against San Jose, including a 1-0 record at home. The Swarm beat the Stealth 14-12 in the only meeting last season (2/2/08) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose.

Minnesota opened the 2009 season with an 11-7 victory at Portland last Saturday (1/3). F Sean Pollock led the team with six points (2-4=6) and D Kevin Ross added five (3-2=5). 13 Swarm players had a point on the night, including four points each from F Dan Marohl (2-2=4) and F Ryan Ward (2-2=4). G Kevin Croswell made 42 saves for Minnesota, earning his first career NLL victory. Croswell leads the NLL with a 7.00 goals against average (GAA) and a .857 save percentage after the opening weekend of action.

With the addition of the expansion Boston Blazers, the Minnesota Swarm has moved to the West Division this season. The West Division now includes the Swarm, Calgary Roughnecks, Colorado Mammoth, Edmonton Rush, Portland LumberJax and San Jose Stealth. Minnesota won both of its contests against the West Division last season 2-0 (1-0 at home) and is 11-6 all-time against the West.

San Jose finished the 2008 season atop the West Division with a 9-7 record, losing in the first round to Portland. F Jeff Zywicki led the Stealth in scoring last season with 90 points (49-42=90) and F Colin Doyle was second with 88 points (27-61=88). Zywicki ranked fifth and Doyle ranked sixth in league scoring last season.

As part of the team's fifth season in the NLL, the Swarm will be unveiling its first-ever team mascot at Saturday's game. Fans in attendance will have the first chance to meet the mascot.



National Lacrosse League Stories from January 6, 2009


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