Justin Ivey, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Tragedy struck the sports world on Sunday. Just after halftime at Mohegan Sun Arena, the news of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine individuals including Kobe Bryant and his daughter, started to circulate through the media booth. Disbelief. Bryant’s mentality extended well beyond the basketball court. His outreach even touched lacrosse as Saturday he was working with high school lacrosse players as a guest of Kyle Harrison. His legacy will never be shadowed, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of all affected.
As for the Sunday game, The New England Black Wolves (4-1) hosted the Georgia Swarm (3-3) in front of 4,737 fans. The Swarm entered the game on a three-game losing streak, including a shocking loss to the expansion New York Riptide. Their determination to end the streak was palpable and they accomplished a fourth quarter comeback to force overtime where eventually Miles Thompson (2G, 3A) scored the game winner. This was the second week in a row the Black Wolves played overtime at Mohegan Sun Arena, and their first loss on the season. Final Score: Georgia-11, New England-10.
The first quarter set the tone for this tight game. Every loose ball was a fight, and nothing was coming easy. Black Wolves’ rookie Andrew Kew (2G, 2A) was first to score, launching a shot from the top middle 3:49 in and on a power play opportunity. Georgia answered under two minutes later with a power play goal of their own from Shayne Jackson (3G, 4A), who would go on to lead the game in points. Lyle Thompson (2G) put Georgia up 2-1 with 4:14 remaining but, Tony Malcolm (1G) evened the score with 1:23 left with a worm burner in transition. At the end of the first quarter, New England and Georgia were tied 2-2.
Callum Crawford (2G, 3A) opened the scoring in the second quarter, quick sticking a pass from Kew past Swarm goaltender Mike Poulin. Again, Georgia answered. Zach Miller (1G, 1A) was lost in transition by the New England defense and Jordan Hall (1G, 3A) found him wide open in front of netminder Doug Jamieson. Georgia then took the lead 4-3 as Hall faked his defender to get an opening and fired in a bounce shot with 5:20 left. The Swarm streak continued as under two minutes later Randy Staats (2G, 1A) found the net on a second effort possession kept alive by Joel White (1A). The Black Wolves were able to bottle the run at three when Creighton Reid (1G, 1A) scored his first goal of the season running in transition with seven minutes remaining in the half. The final seven minutes had no goals tallied, as both defenses stood tall. At the half, Georgia led New England 5-4.
Reilly O’Connor (1G, 1A) wasted no time tying the game out of the half scoring just 19 seconds in. Lyle Thompson answered doing Lyle Thompson things. Catching the ball on the crease with defenders close by, he threw three fakes while leaning to get an opening. Under two minutes later, Crawford threw his should be patented head fake before sniping the bottom corner from outside late in the shot clock. With 8:22 remaining in the third, the game as once again tied. The Black Wolves took the momentum and ran with it. Kew’s defender tripped and Jordan Durston (1G, 1A) streaked down the middle. Kew hit him with a crisp pass and he quickly beat the moving Poulin in net. The back and forth continued as Georgia tied the game again with 3:43 remaining. Good ball movement got Jackson the quick stick opportunity on a cross crease pass from Zed Williams (3A). Earning for some separation, New England was finally able to put together a run again. Stephan Leblanc (1G, 1A) fired a bounce shot on the run that trickled in with 2:56 remaining. Just over a minute later, Colton Watkinson (1G) scored in transition on a circus jump shot. Going into the fourth quarter, New England led Georgia 9-7.
The fourth quarter started with a bang. Kew scored a power play goal 39 seconds in to give New England a three-goal lead. Staats answered just 12 seconds later, running clear through the middle of the defense to score from in close. The Swarm ran with the momentum. Miles Thompson scored 2:52 in and Jackson notched his hat trick goal 5:39 in to tie the game 10-10. The hat trick is Jackson’s sixth in as many games. The final 9:21 of regulation were tense. Both teams knew that the next goal could be the last with the way the defenses had been clamping down. Neither the Swarm or the Black Wolves could break the tie and the fourth quarter ended with the two teams tied 10-10.
For the second week in a row New England found themselves in overtime, one goal away from a win or a loss. This week, the opponent found an opening first. After a few possessions for each side, Miles Thompson launched the game winning goal from outside. Final Score: Georgia-11, New England-10.
Up Next:
The New England Black Wolves (4-1) host the Vancouver Warriors (2-4) on Saturday, February 1 at 7:00 PM EST.
The Georgia Swarm (3-3) travel to play the Philadelphia Wings (5-2) on Friday, January 31 at 7:00 PM EST.