Swarm Drop First Home Game Of 2016

Photo Credit: Paul Sasso, MV Photo Concepts

Story By: Fletcher Keel

LINK: Official Box Score

NLL.com

(Duluth, GA) – Despite trailing by just one goal at halftime, the Georgia Swarm found themselves on the wrong end of a game-ending 6-2 run by the New England Black Wolves as the Swarm fell at home for the first time in Georgia team history, 11-6, at Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Field inside Infinite Energy Arena on Sunday afternoon.

Fans can rewatch this afternoon’s game tonight at 11 p.m. ET on FOX Sports Southeast.

Both teams notched just one goal a piece in the third quarter before the Black Wolves (2-1) scored five straight goals in the fourth quarter – three of which came from defending National Lacrosse League MVP Shawn Evans – as part of a 5-1 frame for the Black Wolves. Swarm captain Jordan MacIntosh scored the game’s final goal with one second left to play in the contest.

“I thought we played pretty well at times,” Georgia (1-2) head coach Ed Comeau said following the team’s loss. “We turned the ball over far too much… in this league, if you don’t have more energy than the other team, the score doesn’t work in your favor.”

Georgia forwards Miles Thompson (1G, 1A) and Josh Gillam (2G) both recorded their first goals of the 2016 campaign, while F Randy Staats (2A) improved upon a team-best point total with his two assists, improving to 15 total points on the year.

New England found early success on the man-advantage, converting on two of their first three power play opportunities, but the Swarm successfully killed off the final three penalties of the game. Georgia went 0-for-3 on man-advantages of their own.

Even with allowing 11 goals, Swarm backstop Brodie MacDonald had another solid night in net, stopping 36 shots in total. Through two games this year, MacDonald has stopped 71 of the 89 shots he’s faced, good enough for a 9.00 GAA.

“I thought Brodie was the least of our problems tonight,” Comeau said. “He played real well again and did a good job.”

Black Wolves netminder Evan Kirk turned away 28 of Georgia’s 34 shots, including 11 of 12 fourth quarter shots faced. 

Following next week’s bye, the Swarm will hit the road for three straight games against Toronto, Rochester and Calgary before returning home on Sunday, Feb. 14 for a 2:05 p.m. ET start against Buffalo. Fans can purchase tickets by calling 844-4-GASWARM or online at GeorgiaSwarm.com.