Swarm Cruises to 15-5 Win over Mammoth
from press release
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The National Lacrosse
League’s (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (3-4) had never beaten the
Colorado Mammoth (2-5) in franchise history, a streak dating back
to 2005. That all changed Saturday night when the Swarm powered
their way to a 15-5 victory in front of 9,223 fans at Xcel Energy
Center. The win gave the Swarm its first winning streak of the
season and puts Minnesota in the West Division’s fourth and
final playoff spot heading into the stretch run.
F Callum Crawford (4g, 5a) and F Ryan Benesch (3g, 6a) led the
Swarm with nine points each. F Aaron Wilson added eight points (2g,
6a). After allowing three goals early in the first quarter, G Nick
Patterson closed up shop, stopping 25 shots behind a stellar
team-defensive effort. The Swarm scored nine unanswered goals in
the second half to bury Colorado in front of the home crowd.
On the cusp of a midseason turnaround, Minnesota’s
second-straight victory is a sign of things to come. It was an
all-around solid performance.
“We continued right where we left off last week,” Head
Coach Mike Lines said. “We gained some confidence with some
big goals from guys who really stepped it up. It’s definitely
a good sign.”
The Mammoth and Swarm are no strangers to one another. The
historically rivaled teams played two preseason games against each
other along with a regular-season meeting last month, which
Colorado prevailed in a thrilling 15-14 overtime finish. The final
regular-season meeting is set next Saturday at 8:00 p.m. CST in
Colorado with Western Division playoff hopes hanging in the
balance.
Colorado jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before the big man, D Rich
Morgan (1g, 2a), powered his way to the net for a shorthanded
tally. Benesch ripped one from the point early in the second
quarter. After another Colorado score, assistant captain D Eric
Pacey (1g, 0a) received a pass downfield from Morgan on a quick
transition for a breakaway goal to pull the Swarm within one.
The Mammoth received a five-minute penalty and the Swarm made the
most of it. F Kevin Ross (2g, 2a) buried a power-play goal from the
side of the net for his sixth goal of the year. With two minutes
left in the half, Crawford showcased a smooth spin move to give the
Swarm its first lead of the game. Just 21 seconds later, Crawford
tallied his second of the night to give the Swarm momentum heading
into the break.
Some rough stuff at the end of the second quarter fueled a strong
second half from Minnesota. Benesch continued rolling, taking a
quick pass from Ross and stuffing his second goal of the game.
Wilson, Minnesota’s leading scorer, stretched the lead to 8-5
before Crawford completed the hat trick.
Minnesota’s all-time leading goal scorer, F Sean Pollock (2g,
2a) converted on a pretty passing play to give the Swarm a
comfortable five-goal cushion early in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota ran away with it after that, scoring nine unanswered
goals to seal it.
