NLL: Minnesota Swarm Puts 'L' in Stealth
from press release
SAINT PAUL, MN -- There was no love lost
between the National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (2-4)
and Washington Stealth (6-1) Saturday night as the Swarm came out
with a huge 16-12 victory in front of 8,952 fans at Xcel Energy
Center.
It was a badly-needed victory that puts the Swarm into a tie for
the fourth and final playoff spot in the West. For the second week
in a row, the West Division-rivals flaunted their muscle, this time
with a bench-clearing brawl in the first half. After losing a tough
one last week to Washington, Minnesota put together a complete
game.
"Obviously a big win for us - a lot of team bonding tonight with
all of that stuff going on," Head Coach Mike Lines said. "We sucked
it up as a team and played very well defensively."
F Aaron Wilson tallied eight points (2g, 6a); F Ryan Benesch
notched six points (3g, 3a); F Tim Campeau scored four goals and G
Kevin Croswell stopped 28 shots.
The NLL-leading Stealth got on the board first, but F Kevin Ross
(1g, 1a) and Campeau answered with a couple nice tallies to send
the Stealth a message. A tic-tac-toe power-play goal by Wilson
really set the tone. With momentum clearly in Minnesota's favor,
Campeau and T Jay Thorimbert (3g, 0a) kept things rolling against
the Stealth with two goals in a seven-second spurt.
A bench-clearing brawl ensued at the conclusion of the first
quarter. Stealth G Tyler Richards and Swarm D Eric Pacey got into a
scrum before other Stealth players jumped in and tempers flared.
Game misconducts were handed out to Minnesota's Pacey and F Sean
Pollock, also to Washington D Mike Grimes.
Thorimbert scored his second of the game before the Swarm took a
five-minute penalty. The Stealth mounted a mini rally of their own
before Wilson and Benesch (3g, 3a) extended the lead. A late-break
goal from the Stealth sent the two teams into half time with
Minnesota up 8-6.
The Swarm came out in the second half looking to finish what they
started, something Head Coach Mike Lines stressed this week in
practice. Benesch buried a nice pass from D Andrew Watt (0g, 1a)
and F Callum Crawford (2g, 3a) followed suit to start the
second-half scoring in Minnesota's favor. Campeau completed the hat
trick and the Swarm found themselves beating the league's best team
11-7.
Washington came out firing in the fourth quarter, but officials
disallowed a goal after Lines threw the challenge flag during a
fourth-quarter play. Crawford lengthened the lead with a spin move
through the slot before Watt and Washington D Eric Martin dropped
the gloves, keeping up with the night's ongoing theme. Thorimbert
added to his solid night, leveling Washington's goalie and picking
up the loose ball for a breakaway goal. Minnesota never looked
back.
