Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©
Featured Image Photo Credit: Victoria Adkins
The Vancouver Warriors (10-4) came into Gas South Arena to face the Georgia Swarm (8-5) on Saturday March 14, 2026, with one thing in mind…Win! After the Mammoth loss the night before, the Warriors knew if they defeated the Swarm, they’d move into second place in the standings. They started out strong, put up as many points in the first half as the Swarm had given up in an entire game this season with the exception of their loss to Buffalo and they chased Brett Dobson from the net twice, the final time just minutes into the third. Christian Del Bianco was a brick wall in net, and the Vancouver offense was able to get in close to score while keeping Georgia from doing the same. After it was all said and done, the Warriors would close out the contest with a decisive victory. Final Score: Warriors 14—Swarm 7.
After a slow start to the first, Georgia would be first to strike. Mike Triolo (1g) fired a high-to-low shot over the double screen to sting the top corner 5:17 in and it was 1-0 Swarm. But two minutes later, Vancouver would take charge putting up four in a row over the next seven minutes. Jesse King (2g, 2a) cut through the middle, tip toed the crease, pumped and put it into the back of the net to make it 1-1 Warriors. Then at the 6:17 mark the Swarm went man up. With Vancouver having the number one PK percentage in the league (72%), Georgia had their work cut out. The Warriors also went with the empty net on the man down and it paid off. Curtis Dickson found Marcus Klarich (2g) behind the net, he sprung up from the back of the cage, brought his stick around and dunked it across his body for a short-handed tally with 6:09 left in the first and they were up 2-1. Dickson (3g, 4a) scored next off a great pick and roll on the inside, he got wide open and put it down low far pipe 3-1. The Warriors were playing very physical while keeping the Swarm from getting in close on cage. With four minutes having ticked off the timer, neither side could find twine. But when the Swarm went man up again, Vancouver struck once more. Ryan Dilks (1g) got the turnover, sprinted down the floor and put a beautiful twister shot five-hole for their second SHG of the frame with 52.3 seconds on the ticker. Score at the end of one: Warriors 4—Swarm 1.
Vancouver would take that momentum into the second and score early. Keegan Bal (4g, 5a) was able to sweep over the top and put a side arm shot inside pipe 1:06 in and this would start their three-goal run. Just 52 seconds later, Dickson went straight to the net, saw an open lane, went underneath, jumped the crease and put it down low far pipe and they were up 6-1. The final of the run would chase Brett Dobson from the net for a few. Ryan Sheridan (1g, 2a) was able to sweep over the top, cut, jump and dunk it over the left shoulder 2:22 in the lead was increased to seven. With Devlin Shanahan in between the pipes for Georgia, it gave them a bit of a spark. They were in transition, Jordan MacIntosh (1g, 2a) headed down the floor, got the flip toss from Adam Weidemann (2a), headed to the cage, stepped down and blasted it into the back of the net 28 seconds later and it was 7-2 Warriors. Dobson would head back to the net and was immediately met by Klarich who danced around his defenders, made his way to the crease, jumped and dunked a twister shot down low 8-2 Vancouver. After their second man up opportunity in the frame, Georgia would finally tally their one and only power play marker. It took a total of 8 seconds for Lyle Thompson (2g) to find a clear lane, and he fired an overhand shot that bounced five-hole and it was 8-3. The Warriors would close out the scoring in the half. Bal got the pick on the crease and with a fake, fake dunk he got another past Dobson with 4:34 on the clock. Neither side found the back of the net although they tried. Score at the end of two: Warriors 9—Swarm 3.
FIRST HALF STATS:
Vancouver Warriors—SOG 28; Saves 24; Sv% .889; FO 11-14; PP 0-0; PIM 8; LB 34; TO 18
Georgia Swarm—SOG 27; Saves 19; Sv% .679; FO 3-14; PP 1-4; PIM 0; LB 42; TO 18
The Warriors would take their first half momentum into the third. Bal would tally back-to-back markers just 24 seconds apart. He snuck the first in short side and the second, he crashed the crease, went underneath, dove and buried it far side giving him his hat-trick and they were up 11-8. Vancouver would find themselves man down yet again 3:58 into the frame and they’d tally another SHG. Reece Callies (1g) on the breakaway and all alone, bounced one under the stick of Dobson just 19 seconds into the man down and that it was it for Dobson. He headed to the bench and Shanahan was in for the remainder of the contest. This slowed the Warriors momentum for a bit until Dickson got the ball. From the outside, he ran over the top and fired a side arm shot that found the back of the net halfway into the third and they had increased their lead by double digits and were up 13-3. Finally, the Swarm were able to put up back-to-back tallies. Nolan Byrne (1g, 1a) ripped one from the outside and he nailed it top corner with 5:36 left in the frame to make it 13-4. Four minutes later, Ben Trumble (1g, 1a) got the dish from Jacob Hickey (1a), stepped down and nailed it near pipe with 1:24 on the clock and it was 13-5. With 8.3 seconds left in the quarter, Vancouver would get their first man up on the night which they’d carry into the fourth. Score at the end of three: Warriors 13—Swarm 5.
Vancouver would notch their first and only man up on the night. Dickson found King and he buried it in the back of the net 24 seconds in, and it was 14-5. Two minutes later, after the Swarm thought they got one step closer, Warriors Bench Boss Curtis Malawsky would challenge a beautiful goal by Byrne which was upheld keeping the score the same. Another goal just minutes later, this time by Vancouver, a beauty by Ryan Sheridan would also be called back. It seemed to be the quarter of challenges. After eight minutes of scoreless lacrosse, Michael Grace (1g) started and ended the play. After a shot on cage, he got the rebound went behind the cage and as CDB came out to grab the loose ball, Grace came from behind and put it into the open side of the net with 6:10 to go. Malawsky would throw his second challenge flag which was overturned. So not only did they lose their second half time out, but they also had no further challenges, the goal stood and it was 14-6. Georgia would put up their final goal on the night with 2:39 left. Thompson drove to the net, went underneath, jumped, used a pump fake and tucked it into the net. With 1:51 on the ticker, the Swarm thought they had another tally, but it was called “no goal”. Comeau threw the fourth challenge flag of the fourth, it was overturned keeping the goal off the board, causing them to also lose their second half time out, had no further challenges and also did not get the goal. Possession would change thrice before the clock wound down to zero. Final Score: Warriors 14—Swarm 7.
STARS OF THE GAME:
Keegan Bal—Vancouver Warriors: 4g, 5a
Curtis Dickson—Vancouver Warriors: 3g, 4a
Christian Del Bianco—Vancouver Warriors: 52 SOG; 45 Saves; .865 Sv%
GAME STATS:
Vancouver Warriors—SOG 45; Saves 47; Sv% .870; FO 19-25; PP 1-2; PIM 12; LB 63; TO 38
Georgia Swarm—SOG 54; Saves 31; Sv% .689; FO 6-25; PP 1-6; PIM 4; LB 74; TO 33
NEXT UP:
The Vancouver Warriors (10-4) will play host to the Ottawa Black Bears (8-6) at Rogers Arena on Friday March 20, 2026, game time 10:00 p.m. EST. Ottawa just came off a heated loss to Calgary they’ll be fired up. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
The Georgia Swarm (8-5) will host the Halifax Thunderbirds (5-8) at Gas South Arena also on Friday March 20, 2026, game time 7:30 p.m. EST. Fans in the USA can see the game on ESPN+, while fans in Canada can catch the action on TSN+. The game will also be televised on NLL+.
Di Miller, NLL Correspondent
Lacrosse is Awesome©