Marcelo A. Saguez, Beat Writer
Lacrosse is Awesome
After suffering a tough loss on Friday night at home against Colorado, the Georgia Swarm (5-6) travelled to face the Toronto Rock (5-5) for their second game in as many nights. Toronto was without Tom Schreiber (knee) and Brodie Merrill (ankle) for the East Division matchup. Georgia showed little signs of fatigue after the loss and travel. The defense and goaltender Mike Poulin played possibly their best game of the season, and Georgia was able to grind out a win. With the win, the East is even less determined than before as all five teams are still in playoff contention. Final Score: Georgia-12, Toronto-7.
Toronto wasted little time getting on the scoreboard. Rob Hellyer (1G, 2A) got on the net with only 53 seconds gone. But, Georgia answered right back as Kiel Matisz (2G, 2A) scored his first of the game just over 30 seconds later. Not to be outdone, Toronto’s Kieran McArdle (2G) scored two in a row. The first came less than 30 seconds after Georgia tied the game, and the second just about two and a half minutes later. With just 4:38 gone in the first quarter, a pace seemed to be developing with four goals already scored. But only one more goal would be tallied in the first. Lyle Thompson (3G, 1A) ripped a high to low shot from the point catching Toronto goalie Nick Rose by surprise. The goal came as Georgia was shorthanded and cut the Toronto lead to just one. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto led Georgia, 3-2.
Georgia turned the tables and scored an early goal in the second quarter to tie the game. Miles Thompson (2G, 3A) grabbed a loose ball near the Toronto crease and buried it with only 1:39 off the clock. Toronto stole the momentum back, scoring the next two. Dan Litner (1G) scored unassisted, followed within a minute by a goal from Brett Hickey (2G). With their second two goal lead of the game, Toronto seemed to be taking control. But, the Georgia offense started to click while the defense found ways to stop Toronto every time they had the ball for the rest of the half. Lyle Thompson, made the score 5-4 only 26 seconds after Hickey’s tally, and on the next possession Shayne Jackson (3G, 2A) tied the game. It took a few minutes for the next score, but Georgia took their first lead of the game on Jordan Hall’s (1G, 1A) goal with 6:51 remaining. Matisz doubled that lead with three minutes left on the clock. Georgia turned a two-goal deficit, into a two-goal lead in just over eight minutes and went into halftime with the lead. At the break Georgia led Toronto 7-5.
The third quarter saw more penalties than goals, as frustration from both sides was apparent. Even with all the power plays, including a five on three late in the quarter for Toronto, neither team would score with an advantage. The Georgia defense held Toronto scoreless in fact, but the offense was only able to score two goals themselves. Jesse King (1G, 1A) scored first on a bouncer around a screen 4:04 in, and Jackson followed it up 35 seconds later with his second of the game. At the end of the third quarter, Georgia led Toronto 9-5.
Everything seemed to be going Georgia’s way, but Toronto struck first in the last quarter. Hickey’s bounce shot from the crease beat Mike Poulin 6:22 in. The goal broke a Toronto drought of 32:30 but did not bring any momentum. Georgia rattled off three in a row to follow starting with a power play goal from Miles Thompson. The goal came with 4:16 left in the game and made the lead 10-6. 23 seconds later, Lyle Thompson scored his hat trick goal and Jackson scored on the empty net with 3:05 remaining for his hat trick. Nick Rose did not return to the net as backup Brandon Miller returned for the last few minutes. Toronto held Georgia to only one shot for the remaining time but could not string together enough to tie the game. Reid Reinholdt (1G, 1A) scored with 2:45 remaining, but it was too little, too late. Final Score: Georgia-12, Toronto-7.
Up Next:
The Georgia Swarm (5-6) travel to play the Rochester Knighthawks (5-6) on Saturday, March 10 at 7:30 PM EST.
The Toronto Rock (5-5) host the New England Black Wolves (5-4) on Sunday, March 11 at 3:00 PM EST.