Swarm Plays Season Finale Saturday

Published on April 16, 2009 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (6-9) finishes its 2009 regular season and hopes to clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth Saturday night against the New York Titans (9-6), 7:00 PM at the Xcel Energy Center. The Swarm needs a win, combined with a Colorado loss vs. Edmonton on Friday night in order to clinch a spot in the 2009 NLL Playoffs. Minnesota will practice Friday, 2-4 PM at the Xcel Energy Center.

Saturday's game is the first meeting this season between New York and Minnesota. The Swarm is 4-0 all-time in the regular season against the Titans, with three of the four victories at the Xcel Energy Center. Last year, Minnesota defeated New York 16-9 (2/8/08) and 12-9 (4/5/08) with both victories at home. New York eliminated the Swarm in the first round of the NLL Playoffs last season with a 12-9 victory at the Xcel Energy Center.

Minnesota is coming off a 19-14 loss vs. the Portland LumberJax last Saturday. Rookie F Kevin Buchanan led Minnesota with seven points (3-4=7), F Sean Pollock added six points (2-4=6) and G Nick Patterson made 17 saves in the loss after replacing starting goaltender Kevin Croswell. Pollock leads Minnesota with 59 points (24-35=59), F Aaron Wilson has 57 points (31-26=57) and F Ryan Ward is also above the 50 point plateau at 53 (20-33=53). Patterson is 3-6 this season with a 13.69 goals-against-average (GAA) and .713 save percentage (SV %). Croswell is 3-3 with an 11.05 GAA and .779 SV %.

New York is tied for second in the East Division and is coming off a 12-9 victory over Buffalo last Saturday. F Casey Powell led the Titans with nine points (4-5=9) and G Matt Vinc made 41 saves in the victory. Powell leads New York with 78 points this season (39-39=78), T Jordan Hall is second with 75 (23-52=75) and F Pat Maddalenda has 71 points (26-45=71). Vinc is 8-6 this season with an 11.42 GAA and .774 SV %. A win for New York would guarantee a second place finish in the East Division; the Titans can also finish first in the East with a win, combined with a Buffalo loss vs. Boston on Saturday night.

In honor of Minnesota's fifth season in the NLL, the first 10,000 fans in attendance will receive a 5th Anniversary Poster. As a part of the celebration, all ticket holders will have the chance to watch the Swarm Youth Box Leagues teams play in a showcase at the Xcel Energy Center from 11am-3pm and interact with Play Lacrosse from 2:30pm - 5:30pm inside Gate 1.

Swarm single game tickets are on sale now at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations, by calling 888-MN-SWARM or by visiting www.mnswarm.com. Swarm single game tickets are available in all price categories and range from $13.00 to $65.00 with special discounts available for groups of 20 or more for Saturday's game.

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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 16, 2009


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