SWARM DEFEATS BANDITS IN SECOND CONTEST OF THE SEASON 2/20/16
By: Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
On Saturday February 20, 2016 the Georgia Swarm (4-4) would head to the First Niagara Center to face their Eastern Division rivals the Buffalo Bandits (4-4). The last time these two teams met was in Georgia on their home turf the Infinite Energy Center and the Bandits would walk away with the victory. In Saturday night’s contest the Swarm were hoping for the victory to tie them with the Bandits for second place in the East. Unfortunately for Buffalo, the victory would tip in favor of the Swarm. Final Score Georgia 19—Buffalo 15.
The first quarter would see Buffalo scoring first with a goal from Anthony Malcolm at 3:13. Georgia would quickly strike back with two of their own the first from Jesse King followed by Johnny Powless. Buffalo would answer back with two from Dhane Smith one of them unassisted. Jordan MacIntosh would put another on the Board for the Swarm only 25 seconds later. But Buffalo would finish off the quarter with Mark Steenhuis and Ryan Benesch putting the Bandits up by two. The number of penalties in the first was absolutely mind-boggling with 12 total; Georgia with seven and Buffalo five. Score at the end of the first: Buffalo 5—Georgia 3.
Buffalo would quickly start off the second with Smith getting his third of the game (hat-trick) 41 seconds in. The Swarm would follow suit with King getting his second. Buffalo would score twice followed by four unanswered goals from the Swarm: Kiel Matisz; Shayne Jackson; Powless (second of the night); and David Earl with his first. Again, Buffalo would answer back with the final two of the first half, one from Mitch Jones; and the final from Steenhuis his third (hat-trick). Although the penalties were a bit lower, the game was still aggressive with another 10 in the second with each team receiving five apiece. Score at the end of the first half: Buffalo 10—Georgia 8.
The third quarter was less exciting than the first two with only three goals each from the teams. Georgia would see Powless with his third (hat-trick); with Randy Staats and Joel White each getting their first of the game. The Bandits saw Daryl Veltman with his first; Smith with his fourth; and Malcolm his second. By this point in the game either the referees were loosening up their belts a bit, or the players were calming down as the penalties were reduced to three. At the end of the third Buffalo would still lead the Swarm 12-11.
Going in the final 15 minutes of play, the fans would be pleasantly surprised with the amount of offense from their home-team. Georgia would score five unanswered goals: Lyle Thompson; Miles Thompson (two); and Earl and White each with their second. This run would put the Swarm up by four mid-ways into the fourth. Buffalo would break the momentum with Smith getting his fifth of the night, but the Swarm would answer back with two of their own. In the final four minutes of play, the scoring would teeter back and forth with Buffalo scoring at 11:26 by Malcolm for the hat-trick; then the Swarm at 13:00 with Staats getting his second and the final goal of the game for Georgia; followed by the last goal coming off a shot by Benesch, assist to Smith at 14:03. Only one penalty would be called in the fourth. Final Georgia 19—Buffalo 15.
Game Stats:
Georgia Swarm: 73 SOG; 16 SOFF; 87 LB; 18-39 face-offs; .462 FO%; 42-52 saves; .737 SV%; 3-4 PP
Buffalo Bandits: 57 SOG; 14 SOFF; 80 LB; 21-39 face-offs; .538 FO%; 54-73 saves; .740SV%; 3-3 PP
Next weekend, the Swarm head to New England to face the first place Black Wolves (4-2); and the Bandits head to Saskatchewan to take on the Rush (4-2).
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
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