DULUTH, Ga. (December 28, 2021) – The Georgia Swarm (1-1) face the Philadelphia Wings (2-1) on the road on January 8, 2022, following a four-week break. The Swarm are coming off a 14-10 win over the New York Riptide on Dec. 12,while the last time the Wings took the field on Dec. 9, they fell 12-9 to the Toronto Rock.
Since the 2018-19 season, Georgia and Philadelphia have competed in five total contests with the series being 3-2 in the Swarm’s favor. The two teams split competition 1-1 during the 2018-19 season with both teams taking a win on the road. In the 2019-20 campaign, the Swarm won the first two meetings of the year and then fell by one goal in the third meeting on March 8, 2020 (the last game played before the pandemic-shortened season). In the last two seasons, the Swarm are 2-0, on the road against Philadelphia, winning the last away contest 12-11 in Wells Fargo Center on Jan. 31, 2020.
On December 12, 2021, the Swarm defeated the Riptide 14-10 crediting five goals as power play goals. Georgia converted five-of-seven power play opportunities against New York which was an improvement from game one against the Colorado Mammoth when they only scored on one-of-seven man up opportunities. Lyle Thompson was the star of the Swarm/Riptide game as he had a 10-point performance after netting five goals and giving out five assists.
In addition to Thompson, many from the Georgia roster contributed to the team’s first win as Shayne Jackson tallied his second-straight hat trick of the season, Jordan Hall and Jordan MacIntosh registered two goals and two assists each and six other Swarm players recorded points. Chad Tutton led the defense in caused turnovers with three as Hall and Kason Tarbell caused two each.
The Philadelphia Wings also have a multi-dimensional offense as forward Matt Rambo currently ranks tied for sixth in NLL points totaling 17 (5g, 12a) throughout three games of play. Teammates Corey Small (6g, 10a) and Kevin Crowley (6g, 9a) sit behind Rambo in NLL points tied for ninth and tied for 11th, respectfully.
The Wings have outshot all three opponents they have faced this season with the shots, 148-134 in their favor. Philly has shown a strong effort in the midfield winning 58-of-82 faceoffs. Against Panther City Lacrosse Club on December 4, Philadelphia won 92.6% of faceoffs, allowing Panther City to win only two. Trevor Baptiste currently leads the league in faceoff wins clamping 58 at midfield.
There is only a .02 difference in the Swarm’s and Wings’ starting netminder’s save percentage. Georgia’s Mike Poulin posts a .742 save percentage totaling 69 saves and one win this season while Philly’s Zach Higgins is 2-0 in net accumulating 90 saves and a .744 save percentage.
Georgia looks for redemption over Philadelphia as the Wings topped the Swarm by one goal in the last meeting (March 8,2020), sending Georgia into the long COVID-19 break on a loss. During the last matchup, the Swarm were ahead 5-0 at the end of the first quarter, but fell 12-11 after getting outscored 4-1 in the final frame.
Following Jan. 8, the Swarm suit up for two more road contests before returning to Harrah’s Cherokee Resort and Casino Field at Gas South Arena on Jan. 29. Georgia takes on the Buffalo Bandits (Jan. 15) and then the Rochester Knighthawks (Jan. 21) before inviting the Wings to Duluth, Ga. for the second meeting of the season.
- Georgia outshot Philadelphia 54-48 and jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first quarter; before falling to the Wings 12-11
- Jackson totaled three goals and three assists; Thompson, Bryan Cole and Adam Wiedemann were the only other returners to sink a shot past Higgins
- Thompson assisted four goals on top of netting one of his own while collecting nine loose balls
- Wings’ Blaze Riorden was the largest threat of the night after totaling five goals and three assists for eight points; Crowley was second on the team in points after notching seven assists
- Poulin saved 36 Wing shots totaling a high of 15 in the second frame; the starting netminder ended the game with a .750 save percentage
- The Swarm went 3-for-5 on power plays while the Wing’s converted 2-of-5 man-up opportunities
- The loss kept Georgia in second place of the East Division at 7-5, a game and a half behind the New England BlackWolves; the Swarm held the number six seed in the playoffs
Milestones:
- Shayne Jackson achieved his 600th career point in the first game of the season against the Colorado Mammoth
- Jordan MacIntosh is 28 faceoff wins away from ranking sixth all-time in NLL faceoff wins
- Mike Poulin is five wins away from his 100th career win making him the fourth NLL goalie to do so all-time
- Lyle Thompson is six goals away from his 200th career goal
Where To Watch:
- Watch it broadcasted on ESPNews – catch the game on ESPNews, one of ESPN’s family of networks at 12PM on January 8
- Watch in person at six Gwinnett County Taco Mac locations: Buford, Cumming, Duluth, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville & Suwanee
The National Lacrosse League announced that each of its 12 teams playing in week 6, including the Swarm, will wear a specially designed orange “Every Child Matters” warm-up shirts during the weekend of January 6-8th. Part of the recently launched NLL Unites, the league continues its Community and Social Responsibility programs throughout the 2021-22 season.
NLL Unites launched in Fall 2021, as the league’s first-ever leaguewide Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. The NLL Unites logo pays homage to the sport’s indigenous roots. The design depicts two early forms of the lacrosse stick, positioned in such a way as to form a heart that sits aside “NLL Unites”. The sole purpose of the icon logo is to pay respects to all who have grown the game, continue to grow the game, and that will grow the game, no matter their background.
