ALBANY, N.Y. (March 5, 2023) – The Georgia Swarm nabbed its second-straight win of the season, defeating Albany, 9-8 in overtime. The squad was led by Lyle Thompson’s seven-point, three-goal affair with the final goal being the golden goal in OT.
Jeremy Thompson now ranks third all-time in NLL faceoff wins passing Jamie Hanford with 2,092. Jeremy Thompson produced a 57 percent clip at the dot last night, winning 11-of-19 faceoffs, now totaling 2,098 wins.
This game was nothing like last weeks as it was a close back and forth affair until the fourth quarter. Andrew Kew notched the first goal of the game giving the Georgia Swarm (2-7) a one goal lead. After that, the Albany FireWolves (2-8) matched the Swarm evening the affair at one-all. The Swarm and FireWolves went back and forth six times, with no one going on a streak until the fourth frame.
Things looked scary for the Swarm minutes into the fourth quarter as Albany went on a three-goal run, all which were shorthanded, giving them an 8-6 lead, marking the FireWolves first advantage of the affair.
Following the three-goal streak from Albany, Lyle Thompson and Shayne Jackson chipped away at the score evening it at eight. Jackson sunk his shot with about seven minutes remaining in the game. With pressure on their backs, Brett Dobson and Albany’s Doug Jamieson soaked every shot they saw in second half of the fourth frame. Dobson made multiple saves in the final minute, pushing his team to overtime. Dobson ended the affair with 40 saves and a .833 save percentage.
Overtime lasted 18 seconds as the Swarm entered it with a plan and delivered. Bryan Cole picked up the loosie off the faceoff, then dished it off to Adam Wiedemann coming off the restraining line who then found an open Brendan Bomberry coming off the bench. Bomber saw Lyle Thompson alone on the wing who then did what he does best.
Lyle Thompson made some pace between himself and his defender, ran towards the middle of the cage and fired off a shot from a few yards out, sinking the golden goal.
Defensively, Jordan MacIntosh led the team in loose balls, picking up 11 as well as tied with TJ Comizio for first in caused turnovers, forcing two each. Georgia’s offense outshot Albany 62-47 with Bomberry and Jackson, leading the squad with 12 each. Bomberry (1G, 3A) and Kew (1G, 3A) followed Thompson in points, recording four a piece.
Georgia comes back to Duluth, Ga. to host the Rochester Knighthawks (8-3) on Sunday, March 12, at 4:00 P.M. ET for the second time this season. The Swarm and Knighthawks went head-to-head on opening weekend of the 2022-23 NLL season, where the Swarm fell, 16-11 at home.
