Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Halifax Thunderbirds (10-8) visited the Georgia Swarm (8-10) on Saturday night for both teams’ final game of the 2022-2023 regular season. This game had meaning as the winner would likely grab the final East playoff spot. The Swarm started off the night with the hot hand, but behind Chris Boushy (5G, 8A) and Clarke Petterson (4G, 1A), the Thunderbirds continually used runs to wrestle the lead away. Despite multi goal efforts from Lyle Thompson (2G, 3A), Brendan Bomberry (2G, 1A), and Seth Oakes (2G, 1A) Georgia couldn’t put together the final run to end up in the lead. The Halifax win, and Rochester loss to Philadelphia, vaulted the Thunderbirds to the 3 seed entering the playoffs. Final Score: Halifax-17, Georgia-11.
The Swarm found their offensive legs first in the matchup with the visiting Thunderbirds, putting up three unanswered goals to start the quarter. Bryan Cole (1G, 1A) was first, swimming by his defender on the way to a crease dive goal 1:47 in. It took over five minutes for the second goal to materialize. With eight minutes remaining, Bomberry shoveled in a goal past Warren Hill (39SV) off a pick and roll assist from Lyle Thompson. 1:20 later, Lyle assisted a cutting Bomberry again for his second goal in a row and a 3-0 lead with 6:40 remaining. The Swarm seemed in control of this game until the last 3:12 of the quarter. The Thunderbirds formed their own streak and scored four unanswered goals to close the quarter. Petterson broke through first, catching the assist from Boushy on the crease and after a few stick fakes, beat goaltender Brett Dobson (34SV). Eric Fannell (2G, 1A) struck next scoring just 30 seconds later on a bounce shot from outside. After some wonderful cross turf passing, Ryan Benesch (1G, 3A) was lost by the defense and Randy Staats (1G, 6A) found him alone on the crease. The goal from Benesch tied the game 3-3 with 1:30 left on the clock. Wake:Riat BowHunter (1G) put Halifax ahead with 46 seconds left, scoring as he cut to the net on a feed from Boushy behind. At the end of the first quarter, Halifax led Georgia 4-3.
The Swarm tied the game early in the second quarter as Lyle Thompson scored his first of the night 2:20 in. The goal was a the result of a quick dodge and a classic Thompson jump over the crease. The tie didn’t last long though. Just over a minute later Petterson scored while the Thunderbirds were lasting out a penalty. The man down goal ignited another Halifax run. They successfully lasted out the penalty and then Cody Jamieson (2G, 5A) scored a powerplay goal with 9:48 left in the half. Boushy increased the run to three goals, cutting hard to the crease and getting a pass from Staats behind the net before quick sticking it in. Georgia did find some relief before the half. Just over a minute later, Oakes scored his first of the game on a power play opportunity and with 3:53 left, Lyle Thompson would find the net again on the powerplay. At the half, Halifax led Georgia 7-6.
Halifax quickly pushed the lead to two at the start of the second half. Boushy flicked in a juicy rebound from a Jamieson shot just 1:12 in. Georgia waited no time to respond. On the next possession, Zach Miller (1G, 6A) found himself wide open in the middle after a fight for a rebound. Ryan Lanchbury (1A) found him and the ball quickly hit the back of the net. Down one, TJ Comizio (1G, 2A) gathered a flip from Jordan MacIntosh (1G, 1A) off the face off and scored to tie the game 8-8. A tense almost four minutes followed, filled with fast play and breakaway opportunities. The tie was broken when MacIntosh picked up a loose ball in the defense end and outran everyone down the turf, scoring as he passed by the crease. Georgia now led Halifax 9-8 with 9:17 remaining in the third. The momentum did not continue though. David Brock (1G) gathered his own shot off the boards in transition while right in front of the crease. A quick little dive and he buried the ball for his first goal of the year. Halifax then took the lead with a goal by Jamieson after a quick clear on a power play. They could not hold the lead going into the fourth quarter though as Oakes found the back of the net with 3:18 remaining. At the end of the third quarter, Halifax and Georgia were tied 10-10.
Halifax quickly inserted themselves in the fourth quarter. They distanced themselves from the tie game with three goals in the first two minutes. Petterson opened the run with a diving goal, and unassisted goals from Fannel and Boushy rounded it out. With a tie quickly tuned into a three-goal deficit only 1:53 into the last quarter, Georgia needed a run of their own. Shayne Jackson (1G, 1A) gave them some life, scoring from the crease with 11:53 remaining, but on the next Halifax possession Boushy again made the lead three. Halifax buttoned down the defense and ended the game scoring three more, while holding Georgia to none. Boushy, Staats, and Petterson all found the back of the net before the end of the game. Final Score: Halifax-17, Georgia-11
Up Next:
Halifax (East 3 Seed) will travel to play the Toronto Rock (East 2 Seed) on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 PM ET in a single elimination NLL Quarterfinal.