Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
On Saturday night, the Georgia Swarm (7-8) hosted the Saskatchewan Rush (6-9) and both teams needed a win to remain in contention for the postseason. The Rush came into the weekend after being victorious in two games last weekend. Georgia has been on a hot streak since starting 0-7, coming in having won six of their past seven. Andrew Kew (1G, 6A) has been a great addition next to Lyle Thompson (4G, 4A) on the offensive end and both currently sit in the top 10 for points this season at six and eight respectfully. With that recipe, the Swarm led this game from start to finish. The Rush couldn’t continue their streak despite an eight-point effort from Robert Church (4G, 4A). Final Score: Saskatchewan-9, Georgia-13
Kew started off the game in the right place at the right time. Georgia won the opening faceoff and set up shop in the Rush end. Kew set an off-ball screen and rolled to the net right as Lyle Thompson fired off a shot. The wide shot bounced off the boards and right to Kew who easily beat Alex Buque (38SV) one on one. Just 48 seconds into the game and Georgia had the lead. Three minutes later, and the Swarm had their first, and only actually, power play opportunity. Brendan Bomberry (3G, 3A) threw a bounce pass to Kew at the point, who tossed it to Shayne Jackson (3G, 4A) on his right, who in perfect cadence fired a sidearm shot low into the net. Bomberry scored the next goal to make it a three-goal swarm lead with 7:36 remaining in the first quarter. The Rush finally found a way to beat Brett Dobson (44SV) and the Swarm defense with 5:36 left. It took a diving Austin Madronic (2G) to break through. But, in the final time Georgia added three more. Lyle Thompson managed a point on each, scoring the first goal and assisting Jackson and Bomberry on the others. At the end of the first quarter, Georgia led Saskatchewan 6-1.
The second quarter was the Church show. Just 1:29 in, and on the Rush’s only power play opportunity of the game, Church quick sticked a shovel pass from Mark Matthews (3A) into the net for his 40th goal of the season. Number 41 came under a minute later, on a bounce shot after streaking off the bench in transition, and number 42 was thanks to a full turf drop in dime from Ryan Barnable (2A). With 10:54 left in the half, Church singlehandedly brought the Rush back to within two goals of the Swarm. Georgia did answer quickly and wouldn’t let the Rush that close again for the rest of the game. Jackson and Thompson scored within a minute of each other, putting Georgia up 8-4 with 8:26 in the first half. The Rush did score last to end the half though. Rhys Duch (1G) buried a long range shot on the offense’s second effort with 2:31 remaining. At the half, Georgia led Saskatchewan 9-5.
Georgia turned the script back to their favor in the third quarter. Lyle Thompson started things off with a strong drive to the net where he finished by effortlessly pushing the ball into the top corner of the net just 1:01 in. Matthew Dinsdale (1G) had the answer to keep the Swarm within reach, finishing after a wonderful feed inside from Ryan Keenan (1G, 1A). Defenses clamped down for almost the remainder of the quarter, but with 2:35 left Lyle Thompson found the net again, and just over a minute later Zach Miller (1G, 1A) scored his seventh goal of the season to extend the Swarm lead. At the end of the third quarter, Georgia led Saskatchewan 11-6.
The Rush put up a fight to start the fourth quarter, quickly finding the net twice to get back within three. Madronic scored 2:39 in and Church followed up with his fourth just 38 seconds later. Bomberry ended the run from in close, assisted by Kew from behind the net. The goal came with 10:01 remaining in the game, and the defenses turned everything away until the two-minute mark. Unfortunately for the Rush, it was the Swarm’s Adam Wiedemann (1G) on an empty Rush net. Keenan would score for the Rush after the ensuing faceoff, but it was too little too late. Final Score: Saskatchewan-9, Georgia-13.
Up Next:
The Georgia Swarm (7-8) visit the Albany Firewolves (3-12) on Saturday, April 15 at 7:00 PM EDT.
The Saskatchewan Rush (6-9) host the Halifax Thunderbirds (7-8) on Saturday, April 15 at 9:30 PM EDT.