Titans Drop Swarm in Overtime
April 24, 2010 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Orlando Titans News Release
MINNEAPOLIS, MN-- Chad Thompson scored a sensational goal from his knees 24 seconds into overtime to give the Orlando Titans a come-from-behind 12-11 road win over Minnesota.
The win, Orlando's fourth straight, gave the Titans a potential league-best 11-5 record. A Washington loss to Rochester in a late Saturday night game would give the Titans the best record in the league and home field throughout the playoffs.
The Titans had to fight back for most of the game. Trailing 11-10 in the contest, Casey Powell tied it at the 1:50 mark of the fourth quarter with his fourth goal of the game.
Powell's goal set the stage for Thompson's heroics. After winning the faceoff to start overtime, Orlando would call a timeout. Jordan Hall fired a pass to Powell who made a move towards the net before dropping the ball off to Thompson, who bounced a shot from his knees between goaltender Nick Patterson's legs for the game-winner.
Minnesota protested the winning goal, claiming Thompson's stick hit inside the crease before the shot, but replay officials ruled the shot had already left Thompson's stick and allowed the goal.
It was not an easy game for the Titans. Orlando fell behind early in the contest and trailed 7-4 as Callum Crawford's second goal at the 5:30 mark of the second period gave the Swarm a three-goal lead.
But, as has been the case for the most of the season, the Titans battled back. Mike McLellan's power play goal cut the lead to two at the half and then Powell evened the score with two, third period goals, including his third of the game at the 11:08 mark of the period to make it 7-7.
But the Swarm would score three quick goals in a 1:19 span to push the lead back to three at 10-7, before McLellan's second goal of the game cut the lead to two at the end of three periods of play.
The Titans would make it a one-goal lead in the first minute of the final stanza on Pat Maddalena's 18th goal of the season. Sean Pollock with answer at the 11:52 mark with his second of the game to make it 11-9.
For the contest, Hall and Powell led all Titans with nine points. Powell has four goals and five assists and Hall had one goal and a team-leading eight assists. Ryan Boyle also had a five-point night on a goal and four assists. Goaltender Matt Vinc stopped 40 of 51 shots for the Titans. Crawford led the Swarm with seven points on three goals and four assists. Tim Campeau chipped in six assists.
The win gave the Titans a franchise-high 11 regular season wins. Minnesota, who fell to 5-11, still advances to the post season as the fourth place team in the West Division.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 24, 2010
- Washington Ends Rochester's Season - Rochester Knighthawks
- Titans Drop Swarm in Overtime - Orlando Titans
- Minnesota Swarm Fall To Orlando In Ot Thriller - Minnesota Swarm
- Knighthawks: Win And They're In The Playoffs - Rochester Knighthawks
- Bandits Steal Last Regular Season Game from Boston; Playoff Spot Still in Contention - Boston Blazers
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