Minnesota Swarm Score Seven Unanswered Goals to Defeat Rush 14-10

January 11, 2015 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


Edmonton, Alberta - Facing a 9-3 deficit late in the third quarter, the National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (1-1) were able to pull off a mighty 14-10 comeback victory against the Edmonton Rush (0-2) Saturday night at Rexall Place.

Minnesota finished the game on an 11-1 run to spoil the Rush's home opener, and collected its first victory of the 2015 season. Unlike last weekend's result at home against Colorado, it was the Swarm this time around who dominated the fourth quarter of play to pull out a victory.

"I don't think I've ever been a part of a swing like this where we were on the receiving end and then tonight we were the team doing all the scoring (in the fourth quarter)," Swarm forward Callum Crawford said. "That's why this sport is so incredible. I think everybody in the building thought the game was done at one point."

The Swarm started fast, scoring the game's opening two goals in the first quarter, but that lead didn't last long with Edmonton answering to tie the game a few minutes later. The Rush then went on to outscore Minnesota 5-1 in the second quarter and entered halftime ahead 7-3.

After the Rush built a commanding 9-3 lead, Crawford scored two of his three goals at the end of the third quarter to give the Swarm some momentum heading into the fourth quarter. Swarm goalie Zach Higgins also came into the contest in the midst of the third quarter and stood strong in his 27 minutes of action to help the Swarm pull out a gutsy road win. Higgins allowed just one goal in his season debut and made 15 saves.

"I wanted to come in and make sure we could settle things down," Higgins said. "They were kind of getting on a run so I wanted to come in, settle the defense a little bit, and make sure we could get some confidence going. Once we started burying a couple you could see the energy rise and the momentum swung right to our way."

In the fourth quarter, Minnesota came out firing and managed to tie the game at 10 after F Corbyn Tao (1g, 1a) scored his first goal of the game at the 3:43 mark. Rookie forward Miles Thompson (3g, 1a) then scored the game-winning goal on a jaw-dropping behind-the-back goal to give the Swarm an 11-10 lead just moments later. On the play, Thompson managed to score while being held onto by a defender and falling down backwards. (Thompson's goal was featured on ESPN's Top 10 Plays Saturday night.)

"I got cross-checked and he kind of held me so I was falling down backwards," Thompson said. "First of all I was trying to shoot, but I knew someone was behind the net because that was the offense we were running at the time. So I knew it was going to score or go high over the net for a teammate."

Despite being one of the league's youngest teams, the Swarm stayed resilient in their victory over of the Rush. Minnesota captured the momentum and ran with it when the team had its opportunities in the fourth quarter.

"At halftime we talked a lot about resiliency and character and all the things any coach would say when your team is down but it's not so much what I did, it's what these guys did," Swarm coach Joe Sullivan said. "Individually they all just decided to pick their game up and outwork them."

Along with Thompson, Crawford also had a hat trick on Saturday night and recorded a team-high six points. Crawford told the media afterward that the Swarm's ability to limit turnovers late in the game was key in the team's turnaround.

"We took care of the ball which was big, but to be honest we just believed. We were getting looks in the first half, we just weren't burying the ball but I think that was the true testament of a family in there," Crawford said. "Nobody gave up on each other the whole game and finally things came together."

Also putting forth solid performances on offense for Minnesota included F Shayne Jackson (2g, 1a), T Andrew Suitor (2g) and T Jordan MacIntosh (1g, 4a). Saturday night also marked the return of 2014 NLL Rookie of the Year F Logan Schuss to the lineup. Schuss missed all of training camp and the home opener due to work commitments. In his season debut, the lefty forward recorded two assists and six loose balls.

The Rush was led by D Chris Corbeil (2g), F Robert Church (2g, 2a) and F Mark Matthews (2g, 3a). Edmonton goaltender Aaron Bold made 40 saves in the game in 60 minutes of action.

Minnesota is off next weekend, and will wrap up its three-game road trip in New England (Jan. 24) and Buffalo (Jan. 30).



National Lacrosse League Stories from January 11, 2015


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