Gary Groob
Lax Philly – A Division of Edge of Philly Sports Network
The Toronto Rock (9-5) took on the Georgia Swarm (8-7) at Gas South Arena in Duluth, GA in front of 9,399 fans. This was the back half of the home-and-home with the Swarm. Georgia took the opener 10-6 last Saturday night in Hamilton, ON.
The Rock announced Dan Dawson and Bill Hostrawser were placed on the PUP List while Josh Jubenville had been placed on the Injured Reserve List. Aaron Forster, Justin Scott, and Jordan McKenna were all placed on the Active Roster.
Georgia saw eight different teammates put up goals and 11 players record points during last week’s win over Toronto. The entire team stepped up to bring home the win as the NLL’s leading goal scorer, Lyle Thompson, was placed on the Injured Reserve List the morning of the game.
Entering this week’s matchup, the Swarm are now the second-highest scoring offense in the league netting 165 goals (11.79 per game). Despite not playing in last weekend’s matchup, 2021-22 NLL MVP Candidate Lyle Thompson still tops the NLL in goals (39) and ranks top-five in points (4th; 80). After adding five more points to his statline last week, Jackson now ranks 13th in the NLL with 66. Toronto’s Tom Schreiber leads his team in goals (34) while ranking third across the NLL. Teammate Rob Hellyer sits first among the Rock in points (59) and assists (41) while ranking 19th in league points.
The Rock’s TD Ierlan ranks fifth across the league, and first among NLL rookies in faceoff wins. Ierlan has collected 165 wins this season, and posts a 60.2 faceoff win percentage.
The goalie match-up was a return from last week. Nick Rose was in net for the Rock vs. Mike Poulin guarding the cage for the Swarm.
Georgia jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead halfway through the first quarter, but from that point on a sharp Toronto offense, and stingy Rock defense took over, giving them the 13-9 victory.
To the game…
Georgia got on the board first when Lyle Thompson (2g,2a) scored on a quick release off a TJ Comizio pass at 3:06, followed by Shayne Jackson (1g,0a) scoring off a Jordan MacIntosh pass at 5:31. Stephan Leblanc (1g,0a) added to the lead, scoring from the outside beating Nick Rose far side off a Lyle Thompson pass at 6:54.
The Rock finally got on track when Brad Kri (2g,0a) scored in transition on Mike Poulin off a Jordan McKenna pass at 7:49. Challen Rogers (1g,1a) brought the Rock within one with a howitzer from the outside off a Rob Hellyer feed at 14:55.
After one quarter, Georgia 3 Toronto 2.
Second Quarter:
The Rock’s Zach Manns (2g,3a) opened the second quarter scoring, tying the game up on a low shot that beat Mike Poulin at 4:55, then taking their first lead of the night when Tom Schreiber (4g,3a) fired a long outside shot to the far corner off a Rob Hellyer pass at 8:21.
Jordan MacIntosh (3g,1a) tied the game up for the Swarm on the power play unassisted at 9:40, but Tom Schreiber scored his second of the night off a couple of fakes to give the Rock the lead once more unassisted at 12:09.
At the half, Toronto 5 Georgia 4.
- Shots on goal were 24-15 in favor of Toronto.
- TD Ierlan went 10 for 11 on the faceoffs for the Rock.
Third Quarter:
Toronto opened the second half scoring when Tom Schreiber scored his third of the night diving from behind the net at 0:27 seconds, followed by Aaron Forster (1g,2a) scoring just 0:14 seconds later to extend the lead to 7-4.
Jordan Hall (1g 0a) got one back for the Swarm dunking the ball over the net (from behind the net) at 5:20, but Tom Schreiber scored his fourth of the game shooting around a screen at 7:51 to get back the Rock’s three goal lead.
Jordan MacIntosh scored his second of the night shorthanded in transition for Georgia, on a long lead pass from Mike Poulin at 12:54, but Brad Kri got it back, scoring his second of the night in transition on the power play off an Adam Jay pass at 14:03.
After three quarters, Toronto 9 Georgia 6.
Fourth Quarter:
Zach Manns opened the fourth quarter scoring for Toronto converting a Challen Rogers pass at 2:13, followed by Dan Craig (2g,1a) with a wrap around from behind the net to increase the lead to 11-6, 0:28 seconds later. Craig scored his second of the night at 10:01 to put an exclamation on the game.
Jordan MacIntosh scored his third of the night, a squeaker through Rose’s five hole off a Kason Tarbell pass at 10:19, followed by Bryan Cole (1g,0a) converting a Lyle Thompson pass at 12:29 to narrow the deficit to four. Lyle Thompson scored firing a long shot to the shortside off a Bryan Cole pass at 13:58.
Latrell Harris (1g,1a) went in alone on a breakaway scoring in transition at 14:27 to put an exclamation on the game.
Final score, Toronto 13 Georgia 9.
The Three Stars:
- First Star……….Tom Schreiber
- Second Star…..Nick Rose
- Third Star………Jordan MacIntosh
Game Statistics:
- Toronto outshot Georgia 55-46
- The Rock was dominant at faceoffs with TD Ierlan going 18 for 26.
- Georgia went 1 for 6 on the power play, also scoring a shorthanded goal.
- Toronto went 2 for 6 on the power play.
Top Scorers:
Toronto Rock:
- Tom Schreiber 4g, 3a
- Zach Manns 2g, 3a
- Rob Hellyer 4g, 0a
Georgia Swarm:
- Brendan Bomberry 0g, 5a
- Jordan MacIntosh 3g, 1a
- Lyle Thompson 2g, 2a
The Toronto Rock Head home to face the San Diego Seals just 24 hours later in Hamilton, Ontario.
Georgia has a bye week next week.
Gary Groob has been involved with Lacrosse for the majority of his life, whether playing, coaching, or covering the sport for the media.
An avid fan, with a real drive about helping to “grow the game”, Gary became part of podcasts about the game in 2010. Through the podcasts, Mr. Groob was given an opportunity to write about lacrosse, and the rest as they say, is history.
Through many miles (flying and driving) Gary has made inroads with the National Lacrosse League, Major Series Lacrosse League, the Ontario Lacrosse Association, as well as the Arena Lacrosse League, covering the leagues, their teams, and players, working for, and in concert with all of them.
In the year 2020, Mr. Groob was made the media person for the Arena Lacrosse League, voted onto the board of directors of the Brampton Excelsiors Lacrosse Club, as well as being made administrator of the Lacrosse page “Global Lacrosse” with a membership of 9000 members in over 90 Countries. Gary was also made an administrator of Lacrosse History Past Present and Future in 2022.
Mr. Groob co-hosts a weekly Lacrosse show on Spanglish Sports World, and ZingoTV channel 250, as well as writes a weekly lacrosse column for La Portada Canada News (both in print, and online).
Gary also hosts a Lacrosse talk show and podcast for The Edge of Philly Sports Network, seen live Sunday nights at 9pm (ET), and archived on the Edge of Philly YouTube page, as well as Spotify.
Mr. Groob’s other sports interests include Hockey, Football, Boxing, Wrestling, and Baseball, competing competitively in Boxing and Wrestling for many years.
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