Justin Ivey, Beat Writer & Co-Editor NE Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome
In front of 5,489 fans, the New England Black Wolves (1-0) hosted the defending champion Georgia Swarm (0-1) and sent them home with a loss. With a revamped defense, the Black Wolves were faster to the ball and their offseason acquisitions payed off immediately. Georgia, the highest scoring offense in the league last year, seemed to have control of the game going into halftime, but the Black Wolves veterans led the comeback for the opening night win. Final Score: New England 13—Georgia 11.
Both teams came out of the gate a bit sloppy. Errant passes and quick possessions marred the first eight minutes of the game. Finally, on an odd man rush, 8:10 seconds into the first quarter, David Brock (1G) scored on the assist from John LaFontaine (1G, 1A) for the first New England goal of the 2018 season. Both players are new to the team this year. Brock was signed as a free agent, and LaFontaine came over from Saskatchewan via trade. The lead was short-lived, as Randy Staats (3G, 1A) beat Aaron Bold for Georgia’s first goal of the year just 27 seconds later. New England took the momentum back quickly, as LaFontaine scores 32 seconds later. 
Kevin Crowley (4G, 1A) made it a two-goal lead before Jesse King (3G, 1A) was able to answer for Georgia. King missed the entire 2017 season, and it was a good sign for the Swarm that he was able to find the net early. New England again would answer with two straight goals. The first was from second year forward Seth Oakes (2G), and the second goal was scored by Kevin Buchanan (1G, 3A). New England held a 5-2 lead with just under three minutes remaining in the first quarter. Something clicked for Georgia at this point in the game. The defense started to step up and it led to a three-goal run to end the quarter. Staats struck first, and with just 46 seconds remaining King found the net again as well. An interference penalty on Kyle Buchanan (1G, 1A) with just four seconds remaining, gave the Swarm their first power play opportunity and Lyle Thompson (1G, 3A) easily scored with one second left on the clock. At the end of one quarter, Georgia fought back and tied the game 5-5.
The Georgia onslaught was not slowed by the break. 1:47 into the second quarter, King netted his third goal for the hat trick giving Georgia their first lead of the game. Just over 30 seconds later, Kiel Matisz (1G, 4A) made it a two-goal lead. Both teams battled back and forth with strong defensive possessions helped by loose offensive play for almost the next 10 minutes of play. Neither team could find the net until Shayne Jackson (2G, 2A) put the Swarm up 8-5 with 3:09 remaining in the half. It was an ugly second quarter for both teams, but Georgia was still able to find a way to score three unanswered goals. Going into halftime Georgia led New England 8-5.
Coming out in the second half Georgia was still hot. In the first minute of play, Johnny Powless (1G, 1A) extended the streak to seven straight for the Swarm. Facing a four-goal deficit, New England seemed on their heels. Finally, Oakes scored his second of the game just over four minutes into the half. The goal broke a scoring drought of 21 minutes and 59 seconds, but it got the team back on track. Kyle Buchanan cut the deficit to two under a minute later, and 
Shawn Evans (2G, 7A) made it a three-goal run to bring the Black Wolves even closer. Georgia, struggling to get off good shots, finally had Staats beat Bold with 5:57 remaining in the third to keep New England at bay. New England wasn’t done though. Crowley showed everyone his isolation magic scoring two goals before the end of the quarter to tie the game. Heading into the fourth, both teams were tied at 10.
New England struck first in the fourth. Reilly O’Connor (1G, 1A) gave New England their first lead since the first quarter on a beautiful assist from Evans just 2:03 in. Just over a minute later though, Jackson netted his second for Georgia to tie it back up. Evans quickly took charge and scored just 12 seconds later, bringing the home crowd to its feet. That goal would be the decisive goal as the New England defense successfully outlasted two penalties before Crowley scored his fourth with 5:32 remaining, bringing us to our final score of New England 13—Georgia 11.
NEXT UP
The New England Black Wolves travel to play the Saskatchewan Rush on December 23 at 8:30 PM EST; and the Georgia Swarm travel to play the Colorado Mammoth on December 23 at 9:00 PM EST.
Justin Ivey, Co-Editor & Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome