Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Kyle Hess
On Friday April 2, 2022 the Toronto Rock (9-5) looked to avenge their loss against the Georgia Swarm (8-7) last week in the second half of their home and home series. The Rock would be without Dan Dawson and the Swarm welcomed back Lyle Thompson to help bolster their offense. After a slow start where the Rock fell behind 3 – 0 in the first quarter they would hold the Swarm to six goals for the remainder of the game as their defense locked down the transition game for Georgia. Final Score: Rock 13—Swarm 9.
The Georgia Swarm came out quick with Lyle Thompson (2G, 2A) coming down the right side and his over hand shot beat Nick Rose (37 saves) over the shoulder to take the early lead. Two minutes later the Swarm struck again when a skip pass from Jordan MacIntosh (3G, 2A) to Shayne Jackson(1G) whose quick stick beat Rose to the bottom corner to double the lead. Jackson had to leave in the second quarter with a leg injury and was only able to come back for one shift the rest of the game. Just over a minute later Stephan Leblanc (1G) curled around his defender and his high to low shot went far bottom corner to make it 3 – 0 for Georgia less than seven minutes into the first. The Rock would finally get on the board when in transition Brad Kri (2G, 1A) came down the floor and took a sidearm shot that went through Mike Poulin’s (1A, 42 saves) legs cutting the lead to 3 – 1. With less than five seconds left in the first Challen Rogers (1G, 1A) came off the bench, received a pass from Rob Hellyer (4A) and went straight down the middle of the floor and his over hand laser beat Poulin to the bottom glove hand corner to end the quarter down one. This was the last time the Swarm would have the lead in the contest. The shots after one quarter were Toronto 16—Georgia 11. Score at the end of one: Swarm 3—Rock 2.
The opening goal of the second quarter happened while the teams were playing four on four and Zach Manns (2G, 3A) came around a screen and his low to low shot beat Poulin off of the far post to tie the game at three. The Rock would take their first lead of the game halfway through the frame when Tom Schreiber (4G, 3A) was at the top and with a low-to-low shot went five-hole. Georgia responded when on the power play, Brendan Bomberry’s (5A) shot came off the back boards and MacIntosh put the rebound in on the short side to tie the game at four. The Rock would regain the lead when Schreiber leapt high to corral a rebound and came down the middle of the floor and fired a shot to the stick side. They would not relinquish their lead for the remainder of the game. The shots on goal were Toronto 29—Georgia 19 at the half. Score at the end of two: Rock 5—Swarm 4.
The Rock would continue the run and started the second half on the power play when Schreiber received a pass behind the net from Hellyer, he dove forward and beat Poulin for his hat trick goal giving the Rock a two-goal lead. Fourteen seconds later Aaron Forster (1G, 3A) would beat his defender low, cut across the crease and sent one to the far side increasing the Rock lead 7 – 4 less than a minute into the third quarter. Jordan Hall (1G) responded for Georgia off a pass behind the net, he’d dunk it over Rose’s shoulder to stop the Rock four-goal run getting them within three 7 – 5. Schreiber would notch his fourth of the game when he dodged and shot it around the screen and his bounce shot would hit short side restoring the Rock three goal lead. With less than three minutes left in the quarter and shorthanded, Poulin threw an outlet pass to MacIntosh on a breakaway and his twister shot beat Rose to the far side to make it 8 – 6 for the Rock. While still on the power play, Kri was on a transition breakaway and he went five-hole on Poulin. The shots after three were Toronto 44—Georgia 37. Score at the end of three: Rock 9—Swarm 6.
It took a couple of minutes to get things going in the fourth and Toronto would start it off. Rogers cut to the net and was stripped of the ball, but Manns picked up the loose ball, threw it in the far side giving them the biggest lead of the night at four 10 – 6 for the Rock. Less than a minute later Dan Craig received a pass behind the net, he came forward his shot went top corner making it 11 – 6. For the next eight minutes both defenses were not allowing any great scoring chances and the Rock were letting the shot clock run down before giving up the ball. With five minutes left in the game, Craig beat his defender underneath and beat Poulin to the far side increasing the Rock lead 12 – 6. After 12 minutes and 25 seconds without a goal, Georgia would finally break the drought. At the 10:19 mark, 18 seconds after the Craig goal, MacIntosh would take a shot from a bad angle, it bounced off Rose’s leg and rolled over the line making it 12 – 7. Right at the end of a Georgia power play Bryan Cole (1G) with a low sidearm shot beat Rose through the legs to make it 12 – 8. Georgia continued their run when Thompson completed a hidden ball trick and his shot from the outside went near side top corner as Rose was looking the other way and it was 12 – 9 for the Rock with just over a minute left in the game. The final goal was scored by Latrell Harris (1G, 1A) when he blocked a shot and went the full floor on a breakaway and beat Poulin with a bounce shot through the legs. The shots on goal were Toronto 55—Georgia 46. Final Score: Toronto 13—Swarm 9.
The three stars of the game were:
Tom Schreiber—Toronto Rock: 4G, 3A
Jordan MacIntosh—Georgia Swarm: 3G, 2A
Zach Manns—Toronto Rock: 2G, 3A
STATS:
Toronto Rock: SOG 55; Saves 37; Face-offs 18-26; Assists 20; LB 73; PP 2-7
Georgia Swarm: SOG 46; Saves 42; Face-offs 8-26; Assists 14; LB 67; PP 1-6
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (9-5) get right back at it on Saturday April 2nd as they play host to the San Diego Seals (9-3) at First Ontario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. Game time 7:00 p.m. EST. This is the “Game of the Week” in the USA so fans can catch the game on ESPN2 & it’s also the “Game of the Week” in Canada so fans can see the action for free on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
The Georgia Swarm (8-7) have a bye week and will return to action on Saturday April 16th when they play host to the Buffalo Bandits (13-1) at Gas South Arena, in Duluth, Georgia. Game time 7:00 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can catch the game on ESPN+. Fans in Canada can see the game on TSN.ca or the TSN app.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©