Kevin M. Neibauer LaxPhilly- A Division of the Edge of Philly Sports Network
A scorefrst in Georgia saw the Georgia Swarm keep their playoff hopes alive with 17-16 win.
In a near must win, the Georgia Swarm (5-6) kept their playoffs alive with a battle with the Rochester Knight Hawks (3-6).
Rochester was up to the challenge and potted 16 goals behind Swarm netminder, Mike Poulin.
Cory Highfield ( 2g;1a) opened the scoring when he converted off a set up from Holden Cattoni and Dan Coates (2a)
Highfield had the hot hand and set up the phenom, Ryan Smith (4g,5a) to get it to a 2-0 Rochester lead
Jordan Hall (2g,2a) and Bryan Cole (1g) leveled the score at 2-2. Smith and Ryan Wagner did the work and Holden Cattoni (4g,2a) reaped the reward to end the first with a 3-2 Rochester edge.
The battle was on at that point.
The Second
After the first stanza it became a heavyweight brawl.. No fewer than twelve goals were registered in the second period with each squad hitting for six
Smith and Curtis Knight set up Charlie Bertrand (1g) just :50 in to start the festivities.
Brendan Bomberry set up Shayne Jackson
(5g ,3 helpers) on the man up.
The Georgia uprising saw Ethan Walker (2g,2a) Jackson and Jackson setting up Lyle Thompson (4g,4a) to boost Georgia to a 6-4 lead.
Ryan Wagner (1g, 1a) followed by Cattoni (4g,2a) would make it 6-6 with 9:11 gone. Lyle Thompson would start a three goal Georgia burst just eighteen seconds later.
Thompson, Bomberry (1g,2a) and another from Thompson took it to a 9-6 contest.
Smith stemmed the Georgia flow with a power play goal at 11:03 followed by the second from Hightower just 1:56 later to close the half with a 9-8 Swarm edge,
That Took my Breath Away
Quarter Three saw the pace slow down. But not before Rochester tied it up off a Cattoni lamp lighter at 2;19.
Jordan Hall countered with help from Thompson.
Shawn Evans assisted on a Curtis Knight (1g,1a) goal before Smith hit for a pair and a 12-10 Knight Hawks edge.
With just one second on the clock Shawn Evans made it four in a row and Rochester was sitting pretty with a three goal lead, 13-10 after three.
To the Fourth
Shayne Jackson at just :25 played, cut it to a 13-11 game.
Jackson continued with hot hand and got it to 13-12 at the 2:15 mark.
A minute thirty two would pass before Thompson leveled the score at 13.
Cattoni on the advantage and Hogg myarth (1g, 2a) he Knighthawks in front by a pair.
Walker at 8:26 followed by TJ Comizio (1g,1a) with 2:59 to play got it knotted up again.
Just thirteen seconds after Comizio tied it, Matt Gilray (1g, 1a) gave Rochester a 16-15 advantage.
You had to know Georgia would counter and it would be Adam Weidemann.(1g,1a).
Neither team could score and off to Overtime they would go.
At tbe 4:37 mark, Jackson scored the biggest goal of the Swarm season.
More Things
• Shots were 57-47 the Georgia way with Mike Poulin stopping 31 Rochester shots and Rylan Hartley knocking away 40 Swarm tries.
• The Georgia victory creates a log jam n the NLL East with Georgia Albany and Philadelphia each having a 5-6 record
No fewer than 28 players registered at least one point including both goaltenders
Rochester represented with 16 on the score sheet.
Kevin has followed and promoted the game of lacrosse since May 19, 1974.
The same day the Philadelphia Flyers won the Cup, the Philadelphia Wings were introduced to Neibauer and Philadelphia.
Kevin has covered many sports, including baseball, football, basketball, and.. lacrosse. A former licensed football referee and baseball umpire, Kevin brings a unique insight to his game coverage.
A published writer in JustHockey Magazine, Kevin covered the American Hockey League as well as a monthly story on a pugilist where Kevin used the pen name, The Rink Rat. Neibauer turned his attentions to lacrosse for a few years and does his part, whether podcasting or writing to grow the game. Kevin branched out to his roots and currently provides insight for all Philadelphia teams for Edge of Philly as well as his full-time duties with LaxPhilly.
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