Photo: Di Miller
Swarm players feel defeated already after letting in goal
The Colorado Mammoth hosted the Minnesota Swarm at The Pepsi Center on Saturday February 1, 2014 in front of 15,127 die hard Mammoth fans. Despite the extreme cold temperatures and snow in Denver, Mammoth fans came to cheer on their team, with spirits high that the Mammoth would outscore their opponent and they were not disappointed! The game was spectacular with the Mammoth walking away with another victory, their third of the season by the score of 14-12 moving them up a notch to third place in the NLL Western Conference with a record of 3-5, and for the first time since the season-opener on December 28, 2013, Colorado has outshot their opponent 51-45.
Forward Casey Powell #22, now donning Gary Gait’s retired jersey number, made his debut after missing the first seven games of the season and was named MVP of the game scoring three goals, two of which were power play goals and the other a short-handed goal. He had six assists to lead the team with nine points, 10 SOG, and a shot on goal percentage of 71. His return to the Mammoth brought that much needed spark to their offense.
The game started with a PPG by Minnesota Swarm forward Logan Schuss #18 just 1:24 into the game after John Gallant #11 defenseman for the Mammoth was called for roughing and received a two minute minor penalty. The Swarm’s Captain Andrew Suitor #20 transition would score the second goal of the game a minute later, however, the Mammoth would quickly answer back with goals by John Grant Jr. #24, forward; Drew Westervelt #26, forward (who just returned from the short-term hold out list); and Adam Jones #16, forward. The Swarm responded with two goals, both by Jordan MacIntosh #24, transition making the score 3-4 in favor of Minnesota. But Mammoth forward Powell would score his first goal of the season on a power play after Swarm player Andrew Suitor was called for intentional contact at 13:28 in the first quarter tying the score 4-4 with only 58 seconds left in the period.
The second quarter was equally as exciting with another four goals by each team. The Mammoth had goals by Jones, Colton Clark #10, and two more by Powell, the last being another PPG by Powell with just one second left on the clock. Swarm players scoring were Suitor, Scott Jones #89, and two goals by Callum Crawford #98. Again, the half would end in a tie with the score 8-8.
It was more than half-way into the third quarter before there would be another goal. Minnesota forward Callum Crawford scored at 7:52 and then again at 10:58. The Mammoth quickly answered with a goal by Sean Pollock #17, forward only 35 seconds later, and again with only one second remaining on the clock, Mammoth player Cameron Holding #19, transition would score. For the third time in the game, a period ended with the score tied 10-10.
In the first three quarters, each team would equal the other in goals scored. But in the fourthy quarter, the Mammoth stepped up their defense and only allowed the Swarm to score twice while the Mammoth put four goals up on the board. Grant Jr. scored twice in the quarter; and Joey Cupido #82 transition, and Westervelt each scored one goal. Minnesota runners Dane Stevens #27 forward, and Schuss would be the only two to score for the Swarm in the last 15 minutes of the game.
Mammoth face-off specialist Bob Snider #41 as predicted would dominate in FOW with 22 of the 29 face-offs in the game, winning 76 percent of the face offs. While the Swarm had two players taking face offs, Jordan MacIntosh #24, transition took 23 of the face offs, had seven FOW and a face-off percentage of 30; and Suitor would take the other six with zero won.
Mammoth goaltender Dillon Ward #45 played another complete game, had 46 SOG, 34 saves, 12 GA, and a .739 save percentage. Minnesota’s goaltender Zach Higgins #31 had 51 SOG, 37 saves, 14 GA, and .725 save percentage. Again, Ward has shown that he has what it takes to be the starting net-minder for the Mammoth and fans are excited to see the rookie in net.
Colorado has five players who rank in the top five in league leaders according to NLL.com. Jones #16, first in points (41), first in goals (25), second in SOG (76), and second in FTO (13); Grant Jr., second in points (40), third in goals (17), first in assists (23), and first in SOG (79); Snider, first in LB (95), and first in FOW (137); Westervelt, tied for fourth with SOG (56); and Ward #45, fourth in saves (222), and in a three-way tie for third in wins (3).
The Mammoth suffered a blow tonight when Jones went down late in the game with a separated shoulder and could be out for a significant amount of time. What does this mean for the team? If Grant Jr., Westervelt, Powell, and Pollock continue to play at the caliber they have shown in the past two games, they have quality goaltending, the defense stays strong, Colorado plays extreme lacrosse for the full 6o minutes, and works together as a team, they will have high scoring games, and victories against their opponents.
