Minnesota Swarm Looks To Stay Unbeaten At Home Saturday Against The Philadelphia Wings

April 11, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Minnesota Swarm has done a perfect job protecting its turf five games into its 2008 National Lacrosse League (NLL) home regular-season schedule. On Saturday, April 12 the Swarm will look to extend its franchise-record five-game winning streak when Minnesota battles for sole possession of first place in the East Division with the Philadelphia Wings at 7:00 p.m. at Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota (8-4 overall) has outscored opponents at Xcel Energy Center 66 to 44 this season. Like the Swarm, Philadelphia (8-4 entering Friday's game at Portland) has also gone unbeaten at home this season at 7-0. The Wings have lost four of five on the road in 2008 but have won two in a row at Xcel Energy Center (11-10 on Feb. 10, 2006 and 11-9 on March 18, 2007). Minnesota is 5-4 in nine lifetime meetings with Philadelphia.

In a match earlier this season (Feb. 22), the Wings literally threw everything they could at the Swarm net. Minnesota goalies faced a franchise-record 77 shots in a 17-8 setback at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. It marked the first regular-season victory for Philadelphia over the Swarm since Jan. 6, 2006 (Minnesota had won the last four meetings between the teams). Swarm starting netminder Nick Patterson blocked 54 of 69 shots in 54:10 before giving way to Kevin Croswell who closed the match allowing two Wings' goals on eight shots. The 77 shots against were nine more than the previous club mark set on March 11, 2005 in a 23-17 win by the Buffalo Bandits at Xcel Energy Center.

Wings F Athan Iannucci, who posted seven points (6-1=7) for the Wings last time out against Minnesota, enters this weekend's contests seven goals from capturing the NLL single-season scoring record of 62 goals. Gary Gait had 61 goals for the Colorado Mammoth in 2003 and Iannucci is on pace for 72 goals this season. F Andy Secore leads the Swarm with 59 points (21-38=59) and F Ryan Ward is second with 57 points (25-32=57).

Minnesota is slated to host the Rochester Knighthawks next Saturday (April 19) at 7:00 p.m. The Swarm defeated Rochester 18-17 (OT) on Jan. 26 in New York.

Great lower level seats can be purchased for each upcoming Swarm home game. Tickets range from $12 - $52 and can be purchased in advance or at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office. Family packs and student discounts are also available. Contact Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151 or www.ticketmaster.com to get the best seats available. For more information on Swarm season tickets call 888-MNSWARM or info@mnswarm.com.



National Lacrosse League Stories from April 11, 2008


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