Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Ryan McCullough
The Toronto Rock (3-8) hosted the Georgia Swarm (6-4) on Saturday night hoping to put a halt to their two-game losing streak. Georgia just came off a loss at home against Colorado and were itching for a win. They also hoped to sweep the season series with Toronto after having defeated them by one goal earlier in the season. After a close first half, the Rock held a slim one goal lead heading into the second half. Both teams put on a defensive clinic in the third as neither team would find the back of the net. Toronto would tie the game with less than 30 seconds left in the fourth sending the teams to OT. Three and a half minutes into the extra frame, Miles Thompson (2G, 1A) would net the game winner giving the Swarm an 11 – 10 win sending the 5,184 Rock faithful fans home disappointed.
The Rock opened the scoring just over four minutes into the first. Josh Dawick (2G, 1A) received a pass from Tom Schreiber (5A) while on the power play and his low-to-low shot beat Brett Dobson (55 saves) to the far post and in for the early 1 – 0 lead for Toronto. Georgia would respond less than a minute later. Kaleb Benedict (1G, 1A) was the recipient of a pass in front from Lyle Thompson (3G, 4A), he faked a few times and beat Nick Rose (40 saves) over the shoulder to tie the game at one. The Swarm would get their first lead of the game two minutes later when Thompson fired a high-to-high shot over the shoulder 2-1. The second assist was awarded to Jacob Hickey (1A) who was playing in his first NLL game after signing a two-year deal earlier in the day. Less than two minutes later, while on the power play, Schreiber would pass to Corey Small (5G, 1A) and his bounce shot beat Dobson through the legs to tie the game at two. Forty-two seconds later, Thompson would restore the Swarm lead. He came along the top and his side arm shot went glove side to make it 3 – 2 for Georgia. With two minutes left in the first, Small would come around his defender, fired a sidearm shot on the run that beat Dobson to the low glove side, tying it at 3-3 to end the first quarter. The shots at the end of the first quarter were Toronto 20 and Georgia 9.
Georgia would open the scoring in the second quarter just as their power play ended. Shayne Jackson (3G, 3A) fired a low bounce shot to the far side restoring the lead at 4 – 3. Less than two minutes later Toronto would tie it up and go on a three-goal run. Chris Boushy (3G, 1A) started it off with a low-to-low side arm shot from the restraining line that went stick side, and it was tied at four. The Rock took the lead about 90 seconds later. Schreiber made a nice cross floor pass to Small, and his quick stick went short side to make it 5 – 4 for Toronto. With 3:41 left in the first half, Toronto would take a two-goal lead. Schreiber passed to Dawick behind the net, he dove in front and went far side, and it was 6 – 4 for the Rock. Jordan Macintosh (1G) would cut the Rock lead in half with a side arm low-to-low shot that beat Rose to the short side, and it was 6 – 5 Rock. In the last minute of the quarter the Rock would extend their lead. Boushy picked up a rebound off the back boards and put it behind Dobson on the short side to make it 7 – 5 Rock. In the last 20 seconds, Georgia pulled their goalie for the extra attacker, Jackson passed from behind the net to an open Bryan Cole (1G, 4A) in front and he beat Rose to the glove side with one second left in the half to make it 7 – 6 in favor of Toronto. The shots on goal at the end of the first half were Toronto 35 and Georgia 25.
The third quarter had a lot of back and forth play where the defenses were causing 30 second-shot clock violations, and the goalies were making saves throughout. One save that stood out was when Dobson made a great arm save on Challen Rogers who came in on a breakaway. Even though there were a total of 21 shots in the quarter neither team could bulge the twine. The shots on goal at the end of the third quarter were Toronto 48 and Georgia 33.
The goal drought was broken two minutes into the fourth quarter. Lyle Thompson took a shot that Rose saved, Miles Thompson picked the rebound up out of the air and put it in over Rose’s shoulder to tie the game at seven. A minute later L. Thompson would beat his defender and his high to low shot went far bottom corner and Georgia had their first lead in 28:53 to make it 8 – 7. Less than 30 seconds later Schreiber tried to dunk the ball from behind the net but was denied by Dobson, Boushy picked up the rebound, dove from behind the net and was able to put it past Dobson to the far side. Georgia challenged the goal, and it was determined that Schreiber had stepped in the crease on his attempt and the goal was disallowed. The Rock would get that one back a minute later. Boushy fired a side arm rip to the top corner tying it up with his hat trick goal at 8’s. With just over nine minutes left, while on a delayed penalty, Cole passed across the floor to Jackson and his quick stick beat Rose to the short side for the 9 – 8 lead. Three minutes later, while on the power play, the Swarm would double their lead. Jackson took a quick over hand shot that went stick side and it was 10 – 8. With time winding down, Toronto would cut the lead to one. Small came around his defender and his low-to-low sidearm shot went stick side, and it was 10 – 9. The Rock would go with the extra attacker for the last 30+, Small had possession, took a bounce shot from far out and beat Dobson glove side for his 5th goal of the game to tie it up with 27 seconds left in the frame. Neither side could break the tie 10-10 sending the game into bonus lacrosse.
Both teams had chances on offense in the extra period and just over six minutes in, L. Thompson looked like he was shooting from the outside but instead passed it to the corner to M. Thompson and his quick stick beat Rose to the short side for the game winner. Final Score OT: Swarm 11—Rock 10.
The Three Stars of the game were:
Corey Small – Toronto Rock: 5 goals and 1 assist
Lyle Thompson – Georgia Swarm: 3 goals and 4 assists
Shayne Jackson – Georgia Swarm: 3 goals and 3 assists
GAME STATS:
Georgia Swarm—SOG 51; Saves 55; Sv% .846; FO 6-26; PP 1-2; LB 99
Toronto Rock—SOG 65; Saves 40; Sv% .784; FO 20-26; PP 2-3; LB 70
NEXT UP:
The Toronto Rock (3-8) have a bye-week and will return to action on Friday March 7, 2025, when they head to Scotiabank Centre in Nova Scotia to face the Halifax Thunderbirds (6-4), game time 6:30 p.m. EST. This is the NLL Friday Night on TSN game for fans in Canada and they can catch the game on TSN, TSN1, TSN5 and TSN+. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. All games are also available on NLL+.
The Georgia Swarm (6-4) head north of the border to face the Ottawa Black Bears (5-5) at Canadian Tire Centre on Friday February 28, 2025, game time 7:00 p.m. EST. This is the NLL Friday Night on TSN game for fans in Canada and they can catch the game on TSN, TSN5 and TSN+. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+. All games are also available on NLL+.
Shawn Palmer, Toronto Rock Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©