By: Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
After the last game at Mohegan Sun Arena, the Black Wolves (5-2) hoped this game against the Georgia Swarm (4-5) would be less of a nail biter. Georgia had other ideas. The game on Sunday afternoon was everything a lacrosse fan wanted. Physical defense; unbelievable goals; and passion from both sides. Final Score: New England 16—Georgia 15.
Lyle Thompson (2G, 3A) opened the game with an unnatural twisting goal just 45 seconds in that silenced the home crowd. Not to be outdone in his home arena, Shawn Evans (3G, 7A) evened the score just a minute later with his 300th NLL goal. Newcomer Jordan Hall (3G, 6A), who has really added a spark to the offensive group, put the Black Wolves up 2-1 a few minutes later. Pat Saunders (1G, 1A) would extend the lead on a power play goal, but Georgia’s Shayne Jackson (1G, 2A) would score a beautiful touch goal on the power play off of two behind the back passes to bring the Swarm back within one. Brian Megill, one of New England’s most respected defenders, went down in the first with an apparent knee injury and would not return.
Up one going into the second quarter, Kyle Buchanan (2G, 2A) would stretch the lead to 2 with his first of the game. Georgia then showed they would not go down easily. They quickly rattled off two goals within a minute of each other. With the score even, Kyle Buchanan once again would put the ball past Brodie MacDonald (34 SV) to the roar of the fans. Georgia yet again though would rattle off two in a row, the second being a power play goal from Jesse King (4G, 2A). Sheldon Burns (1G) would answer the call this time, bringing the score even at 6 a piece going into the half.
Both teams came out with a purpose in the third quarter. Georgia would pepper Black Wolves goalie Evan Kirk (49 SV) with shots upon shots from outside, hoping to squeeze some past the stonewall goalie. They would score the first two of the quarter to go up 8-6 with one goal from Randy Staats (3G, 1A) and the other a shorthanded goal from Miles Thompson (1G, 1A). Kevin Crowley (3G, 3A) would score his first to bring the Black Wolves back within one, but another goal from Randy Staats extended the Swarm lead to 2 again. Jordan Hall would get New England back on track with a ridiculous bounce goal from behind the net – shorthanded none the less. He then would assist on the next two goals to close the quarter with the Black Wolves up 10-9.
The fourth quarter started with, you guessed it, Jordan Hall scoring just 33 seconds in, and to keep the streak going he would assist on Kevin Buchanan’s (2G, 4A) second goal of the game to have a direct hand in five straight Black Wolves’ goals. 2:36 into the fourth, things were looking up for the home crowd. But a three goal lead though was quickly cut back down to one with two goals within a minute for the Swarm. This see-saw effect would continue till the end. John Ranagan (1G) would put the Black Wolves up two again, but only for a brief time as Johnny Powless (3G, 3A) and Jesse King (4G, 6A) would each score to tie the game at 13 with 6:51 remaining in the game. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Shawn Evans would put New England up again, only to have Jesse King tie it for the second time in the fourth. With 3:04 remaining Kevin Crowley would break the tie, only to have Johnny Powless tie it with 32 seconds remaining. Overtime seemed like a sure thing. In one last effort, New England pulled Kirk for the extra attacker after Ryan Hotaling pushed the face off direct to Jordan Hall. Hall looked like he wanted to pass off to Evans, who was being closely watched. Instead he passed it to Crowley who elegantly hit the net cutting to the middle with 3.5 seconds on the clock. Euphoria ensued as the Black Wolves pulled out another close game in front of the home crowd. Final: New England 16—Georgia 15.
GAME NOTES:
Shawn Evans moved into 22nd on the NLL all-time scoring list with 302 career goals.
NEXT UP
New England visits the West division leader Colorado on March 5th.
Georgia has a week off and then visits Saskatchewan on March 12th.
Justin Ivey, Beat Writer New England Black Wolves
Lacrosse is Awesome