Justin Ivey, Co-Editor
Lacrosse is Awesome©
The Albany Firewolves (6-0) kept the train rolling Saturday night when they visited the Georgia Swarm (4-2). With a balanced attack, a strong and quick defense and transition, and a clear MVP candidate in Doug Jamieson (36SV), the Firewolves led for nearly the whole game with the only exception being the 0-0 and 1-1 tie early in the first quarter. On the back of outstanding rookie Alex Simmons (1G, 4A) the Firewolves are now the 13th team in NLL history to start the season 6-0. The Swarm were able to put together a little rally in the fourth quarter, including three goals from Lyle Thompson (3G, 1A), but Albany was able to hold on in the end. Final Score: Albany Firewolves-12, Georgia Swarm-8.
Firewolves’ team captain Colton Watkinson (2-0) opened the scoring 3:21 in with an unassisted transition goal on Swarm starting netminder Brett Dobson (21SV). Georgia tied the game, but it took over three minutes for the goal to come around. Jeff Henrick (1A) found Jordan MacIntosh (1G, 1A) wide open in the middle during transition. Jordan caught the ball, set his feet, and sniped the bottom left corner with 8:32 remaining. Albany did not wait long to respond after winning the ensuing faceoff. Ethan Walker (2G, 1A) caught the cross-turf pass from Simmons as he was running into the offensive zone, and he picked the bottom right corner for his first goal of the game. The goal carried a little momentum. The next faceoff was won deep into the Albany defensive zone, and the Firewolves switched the offense on. Marshall Powless (1G, 3A) found a cutting Sam Firth (1G, 2A) who finished jumping across the crease putting Albany up two with 7:46 left in the opening quarter. It took over five minutes of lacrosse before another goal came around. Unfortunately for the home team crowd, it was another Watkinson goal in transition that put the Firewolves ahead three. This time though, the Swarm answered quickly. Brendan Bomberry (2G, 1A) scored on a powerplay opportunity with 1:38 remaining. At the end of the first quarter, Albany led Georgia 4-2.
The Albany defense was on full display in the second quarter. Jameison and company held the potent Swarm offense to just one goal, and that lone goal was scored with 2:43 left in the half. Bomberry scored it on a pinpoint shot after being left alone as two defenders chased Thompson to the crease. The Albany offense was able to pull together for four goals. John Piatelli (1G) scored his first goal of the season after some tic-tac-toe passing across the zone 1:18 in. After over nine minutes of scoreless lacrosse, Patrick Kaschalk (1G, 2A) felt space in transition and scored on the rush. The Bomberry goal came soon after that, but Travis Longboat (2G, 3A) scored two goals in 30 seconds with under two minutes remaining to put Albany in seemingly unwavering control. With 1:55 left, he gathered a Simmons shot off the boards and danced in for the goal. With 1:26 left, he quickly gathered and released a pass from Powless right into the bottom left corner. At the half, Albany led Georgia 8-3.
For fans of offensive lacrosse, the third quarter was not up to par. Both defenses really clamped down and only three total goals were scored. The tally fell in favor of Albany, 2-1. The first goal was a filthy put back from Walker. He gathered a Simmons shot off the boards, and in one motion while flying below the goal line, he jumped, pulled back his stick and beat a sliding Dobson to the spot. The cage knocked off its place as the ball hit the net. The goal came just 2:57 in. 42 seconds later, Simmons fired a shot at the feet of Dobson and the ball trickled past to put Albany ahead 10-3. Dobson was then replaced in net by Angus Goodleaf (12SV). Finally, Georgia found the net with 8:15 left in the third. The transition marker was the result of beautiful crisp passes up the floor that were finished by Zach Miller (1G). Unfortunately, the goal didn’t catch any momentum as the third quarter ended with Albany leading Geogia 10-4.
The Swarm made things interesting in the fourth quarter. Thompson looked determined to try and carry the team all the way back on his own. Just 1:57 in, he scored on the powerplay with a perfectly placed shot from outside. When the Swarm were awarded a penalty shot 3:56 in, Thompson was stuffed by Jamieson but 1:16 later, he finished a run around the zone with a backhand goal from inside. Suddenly, there was a four-goal game with 9:48 remaining. The Firewolves stopped the onslaught temporarily. With 9:19 left, Powless netted his second of the game and the first goal allowed by Goodleaf, but Thompson again scored just 59 seconds later completing a hat trick in the fourth quarter alone. The gap was cut to three when Andrew Kew (1G, 2A) scored with a bounce shot and 7:00 on the clock. The quick goals did not shake Albany for the remaining of the quarter. They picked themselves up and stopped the scoring there, and Jackson Nishimura (1G, 1A) added an empty net goal with 1:50 left to bring us to our final. Final Score: Albany-12, Georgia-8.
Up Next:
The Georgia Swarm (4-2) travel to play the Toronto Rock (4-0) on Saturday, January 20 at 7:00 PM EST.
The Albany Firewolves (6-0) host the San Diego Seals (3G, 2A) on Saturday, January 20 at 7:00 PM EST.