The last time the Colorado Mammoth and the Minnesota Swarm faced off, the Swarm left the Pepsi Center with a 20-14 loss. Heading into this second meeting, there were plenty of questions about both teams. Would the Mammoth remain unbeaten after their two week break? Would the Swarm take their winning streak to four? Did the Swarm make a mistake in cutting Nick Patterson and going with two rookie goalies? Have the Mammoth peaked too early?
While we may not know the answer to some of those questions, and probably won’t until more of the season plays out, we do know that Tyler Carlson faced a very strong Mammoth offense and with the help of his defense did fairly well despite the loss. One thing is for sure though. If the Mammoth expect to continue their winning ways, they can’t let their opponents have multiple possessions to their one. Getting the rebounds and lose balls is still a huge glaring issue with this team.
1st Quarter
After much back and forth play, a three minute goal flurry was kicked off by Andrew Watt scoring for Minnesota to give the Swarm the opening lead. The lead doesn’t last long however as Cameron Holding scores unassisted on the power play for Colorado tie followed by a goal from Mammoth Captain Gavin Prout to take the lead. With a golf swing style shot, Joel Henry scores for the Swarm to tie the game back up. Jarrett Park scores on a one on one breakaway but definitely pays the price as he’s checked from the side by Swarm defender. *
Colorado Mammoth 3, Minnesota Swarm 2
2nd Quarter
Sean Pollock starts off the scoring to give Colorado a two goal lead and is the only goal scored in over ten minutes of play. Kevin Ross breaks the scoring drought shooting 5-hole and he twists and falls, stepping into the crease. Mammoth Coach, Bob Hamley throws the challenge flag and with only one camera really showing the angle, there isn’t enough evidence to overturn the call made on the floor and the goal is ruled good. John Grant Junior scores his first goal of the night on a stepping wind up near the retention line. Ryan Benesch with a little luck on his side hits the cross bar and has the ball go in for his first goal of the night keeping Minnesota within one heading into the halftime break.
Colorado Mammoth 5, Minnesota Swarm 4
3rd Quarter
JGJ scores on the power play from the outside on a screened play to kick off the scoring for the Mammoth. Jordan MacIntosh scores for the Swarm but Hamley challenges the goal. Without much deliberation, the goal is ruled good. With less than two minutes remaining in the quarter, Nik Bilic scores his first ever goal in the National Lacrosse League unassisted to tie the game.
Colorado Mammoth 6, Minnesota Swarm 6
4th Quarter
JGJ again kicks off the scoring for the Colorado Mammoth to start the final quarter, although, it looked like it was actually going to be Creighton Reid with the first goal .Tyler Carlson blocked a Mammoth shot and was outside the crease passing the ball down the field but Mammoth recovered it instead causing Carlson to have to scramble back to the net to block Reid’s shot. Watt scores quickly after on a breakaway to retie the game. With just over five minutes remaining Pollock scores the game winner for Colorado and kicks off a 5 goal run by the Mammoth. Jamie Lincoln gets his first goal of the night followed by another goal from JGJ. Gavin Prout catches Carlson out of net on an extra attacker pull and sneaks the goal in. With just seconds remaining, Ian Hawksbee gets an empty net goal to give the Mammoth a five goal lead.
Final Score:
Colorado Mammoth 12, Minnesota Swarm 7
Attendance: 9,030
1st Star – Chris Levis. He faced 47 shots and saved 40 of them.
2nd Star – John Grant Junior. With four goals and three assists, JGJ was definitely the offensive leader.
3rd Star – Gavin Prout. With two goals and four assists, Prout definitely made his mark.
Around the League:
Philadelphia Wings 14, Toronto Rock 8
Washington Stealth 12, Rochester Knighthawks 15
Edmonton Rush 8, Calgary Roughnecks 12
*Official game sheet says the goal was by Scott Stewart, but I’m going with what I had written in my notes.
