On Native American night at the Hive, the Minnesota Swarm(3-2) needed overtime to defeat the Rochester Knighthawks(2-3) 7-6 in front of 9,645 Friday night. Callum Crawford’s only goal of the game was scored at 2:21 of overtime.
This was a defensive battle with both Matt Vinc and Zach Higgins standing tall for their teams. Vinc stopped 39 of 46 shots he faced and Higgins stopped 35 of 41.
The first half was controlled by the Swarm as Shayne Jackson (1G/1A) and MIles Thompson (1G/2A) gave the Swarm an early 2-0 lead. Cody Jamieson (2G/2A) would score the only goal for the Knighthawks at 14:17 of the first quarter.
The second quarter belonged to the Swarm, or should we say Logan Schuss. Schuss (3G/1A) just didn’t score all three goals for the Swarm, but scored all three in the second quarter and the Swarm went on to build a 5-1 halftime lead. Schuss also picked up 10 loose balls.
As the third quarter started the Knighthawks offense woke up. Joe Walters (1G/2A), Dan Dawson (2G/1A), Cody Jamieson, Craig Point (1G/3A) combined for five goals and take a 6-5 lead going into the final quarter.
Andrew Suitor would score the tying goal at 8:56 of the final quarter to tie the game at 6. The remaining six minutes displayed some outstanding defense, and stellar goaltending by both teams.
Both teams were 1-3 on the power play. The Swarm picked up an additional 26 looseballs 86-60, four of which came in overtime which led to the game winner by Callum Crawford.
To hold a team under ten goals in the NLL is a huge boost to any defense. With the fire power that both these teams have, their defenses held each other under ten.
Both teams are back in action next weekend as they play twice. Minnesota has a home and home with the first place Toronto Rock, and the Knighthawks travel to Buffalo on Saturday night, and then have a rematch against the Black Wolves in Connecticut Sunday evening.
Crawford’s OT winner was more then that, it was his 200th career goal.
