By: Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
On Saturday March 12, the Saskatchewan Rush (6-3) would play host to the Georgia Swarm (4-6). This would be the first time in the 25 years the Sasktel Centre has been in existence, they expected over 14,000 fans for its First Nations Night; and the first time Saskatchewan have hosted a home game on a Saturday. All the festivities made the atmosphere even more spectacular with members of the First Nation’s singing an opening prayer for the players while keeping the beat on their native drum. The Chiefs from the First Nation’s presented the Thompson brothers; Randy Staats; and Johnny Powless with awards. The Rush have this season, been trailing 2-0 going into half time and come away with the victories. However, they had to contain Johnny Powless and Randy Staats who are leading the Swarm in scoring this season; and Staats is one of five players on the Swarm with 35 points or more. With all the hype, the tables were definitely tipped in the direction of the Rush who would come away with the victory 14-8.
Only 53 seconds into the first quarter Robert Church waited for the pick and sent it to Ben McIntosh for the goal. The Rush are only one and two when they score the opening goal. Georgia tried their set play which consists of a man in front of net looking like he’s going to take the shot, and instead makes a pass to the man behind the net who then tries to come over the top. However, this wasn’t working on the Rush. The fans would see almost a full nine minutes of virtually no offense; all defense; and amazing net-minding. That’s when McIntosh would score again at 9:45 assist to Mark Matthews. The Swarm would finally put their first point on the board when Randy Staats, assist to Kiel Matisz would come straight down the field scoring on a low bounce shot between the legs of Aaron Bold at 13:07. Less than 30 seconds later the Rush would open up some space for Matthews who would on a nice fake, shoot and score over the right shoulder of 6’7” Brodie MacDonald. MacDonald would make two great saves on shots by Zack Greer, but at 11:57 Greer would find a way to score with the assist to Church. The quarter would end with the Rush up 4-1.
It was slow start in the second but at almost seven minutes in the quarter the fans would jump to their feet when Adrian Sorichetti would get a break-away thinking he would score, but MacDonald had no intention of letting that happen and made a nice save with the stick. Then Matthews would score back-to-back goals (7:33 and 8:29) giving him the hat-trick. At that point the Swarm knew they had to do something and pulled MacDonald with 8:31 left in the half. Zach Higgins would come into the game and Jeff Cornwall would take the first shot on the net-minder. Unfortunately for Higgins, Cornwall would go behind the net to come around and score at 8:49. Georgia would get their second and final goal of the half when Lyle Thompson would head down the field, gets wrapped up but was still able to hit net at 11:25, assist to Matisz. The final goal of the half would see Cornwall on a break-away to John LaFontaine right in front of the crease who would score lower right corner. The Swarm would pull Higgins with less than 30 seconds in the half in the hope that the extra attacker would allow them to score, but Bold was tough in net and Georgia wouldn’t capitalize. End of the second: Rush—8 Swarm—2.
At the start of the third Greer would score over the shoulder of Higgins at 2:23. Then Georgia’s Chad Tutton would dodge and head across field with the pass to Staats who would hit the left side of the net beating Bold stick side at 3:14. The Rush would put two more on the board with a pass from Matthews to Robert Church who would hit top-left (4:56); and Ryan Dilks on a break-away outrunning Miles Thompson, another going over the left shoulder of Higgins for a short-handed goal at 9:46. Georgia would see two more in the third, Shayne Jackson with a quick-stick shot, assist to Powless (11:20); and another from Staats at 12:19 giving him the hat-trick. Score at the end of the third: Rush—11 Swarm—5.
Unfortunately for the Swarm, the Rush would start out strong again in the fourth. Dilks would get the assist from Greer and in front of the net would shoot low and score (5:08); and Greer (6:49) with his third giving him a hat-trick as well. Georgia would find some momentum with goals from Matisz who would come across in front of the goal and score across the shoulder of Bold (8:04); Jason Noble, assist from Joel White (11:35); and Jackson with a nice over the shoulder shot for his second and the final time the Swarm would hit net in the game (12:01). Matthews would be the last to score with only 2:43 left on the clock giving him eight points on the night (4G, 4A). Even though the game was locked up for the Rush, there was a bit of excitement with less than 30 seconds left on the clock. LaFontaine would dive across the crease in an attempt to put another one on the board for the Rush. The Swarm would throw their challenge flag. After final review the goal was determined “no goal” as LaFontaine’s stomach made contact with the floor before the ball had crossed the plane of the goal.
The Swarm definitely looked unorganized and somewhat confused at times. They were making poor shots and bad passes. The Rush took advantage of this and came away with the win. If the Swarm want to be contenders for the remainder of the season it is imperative that make the necessary changes now.
On Friday March 18, the Saskatchewan Rush head to Langley Events Centre to face the Vancouver Stealth (3-7). On Saturday March 19, the Georgia Swarm play host to the Rochester Knighthawks (5-5) at Infinite Energy Arena.
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
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