Minnesota Swarm
4-3 (Home 2-1 Road 2-2)

vs
Chicago Shamrox
3-4 (Home 1-1 Road 2-3)

The Travis Hill Kicks Over Mrs. O'Leary's Shamrox
Edition of Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse

February 24th , 2007, 7:30 pm CST
Sears Centre
Hoffman Estates, Illinois

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

Television: Comcast Sportsnet-Chicago: Direct TV Channel 640, Dish Network Channel 429
Internet webcast: B2 Networks: https://www.b2livetv.com/bp/nll.htm $6.00 per game
Audio: http://www.sportsjuice.com/
Minnesota Swarm website: http://www.mnswarm.com
Minnesota Swarm message board: http://boards.mnswarm.com/forums/
Chicago Shamrox website: http://www.chicagoshamrox.com
National Lacrosse League website: http://www.nll.com
NLL message board: http://www.wingszone.com/nllmb/

Series

Overall: Shamrox 1-0
Home: Shamrox 1-0
Road: N/A

In the first ever game between the two teams, the Shamrox spoiled this year’s home opener for the Swarm by a score of 11-10 on January 13, 2007. Scott Stewart (8g 15a) led the Swarm with one goal and three assists in the loss. This weekend the Swarm look to tie the season series and avenge the home opening loss.

Riley Kemp playing in every Minnesota Swarm game count (including playoffs): 40

East Division W-L (Division Record) [vs. Swarm] (Goal Differential)

1. Rochester Knighthawks 6-2 (4-1) [0-1] (+20)
2. Philadelphia Wings 4-3 (2-1) (+3)
3. MINNESOTA SWARM 4-3 (3-2) (-3)
4. Toronto Rock 3-3 (3-3) (+1)
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5. Buffalo Bandits 4-4 (4-2) [1-0] (+5)
6. CHICAGO SHAMROX 3-4 (2-4) [1-0] (-4)
7. New York Titans 1-7 (1-6) [0-2] (-17)

West Division W-L (Division Record) [vs. Swarm] (Goal Differential)

1. Colorado Mammoth 8-1 (6-1) (+31)
2. Arizona Sting 5-2 (4-1) (+9)
3. Calgary Roughnecks 4-3 (3-2) [1-0] (+3)
4. Edmonton Rush 2-4 (1-4) (-15)
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5. San Jose Stealth 1-5 (1-2) (-11)
6. Portland LumberJax 2-6 (0-4) [0-1] (-22)

The game in Chicago this weekend is a tale of two elevators. Traveling on the up elevator, is the Minnesota Swarm, who have won three straight including a sweep of a home and home series against the New York Titans this past weekend. The three game winning streak is the longest in team history. Ryan Ward (11g 28a) had 14 points over the weekend followed by Sean Pollock (9g 17a) with 13 and the newly acquired Mike Hominuck (13g 23a) with 12.

On the opposite elevator going down is the expansion Chicago Shamrox. They are in the midst of a three game losing streak. In their last two games, the Shamrox have lost by one goal in each. Last Sunday, the Shamrox lost 11-10 to the Toronto Rock after leading 8-4 at halftime.

The marquee match up will be between the pipes this weekend. Nick Patterson (3-3 11.80 GAA .769 Save %) will represent the Swarm. Patterson has won his last two games and has been the number one option on weekends the Swarm have only one game. Brandon Miller (3-4 11.33 GAA .786 Save %) has played all but one minute and four seconds this year for the Shamrox. He has been their MVP this year and has validated the Shamrox’s decision to take him first in the expansion draft. In the first match up, both made 43 saves and were spectacular but the extra shot taken by Cody Jacobs (5g 3a) was just enough to tilt the game to Chicago.

The Swarm defense had a tough task last weekend with the potent New York offense especially in the second half of both games. This weekend against the Shamrox, they will have to stay more aggressive in the second half. In the first game, the Shamrox rallied in the second half to win and have tended to play better late except for last weekend. The Shamrox are led offensively by Jason Clark (11g 20a) and Chris Panos (15g 6a), who both have spent a lot of years in the league on a lot of teams gaining experience and learning to adapt to many different systems. Now both of them are relied upon to lead and to guide rookie forwards like Josh Wasson-McQuigge (9g 7a) and Bill McGlone (9g 6a). The Swarm should see marked improvement in newly acquired Ryan Sharp (0g 6a 46 LB) as he grows more familiar with the defensive sets. During the three game winning streak, Riley Kemp (4a 48 LB) has definitely picked his game up and Mark Miyashita (2g 2a), with 68 loose balls, is seventh in the league in that category.

The Swarm offense has never looked so good. Albeit, New York has the league’s worst defense, the Swarm offense still looked like it turned it up a notch. Hominuck fit in very well on the left side and Pollock has been on a torrid pace of late. A key on offense and one that must continue, is that the Swarm have been more proficient in scooping loose balls in the offensive zone to continue possessions. This has been an issue more often than not but lately the Swarm are winning those battles. The defense the Swarm will be facing is going to be a better test of how the offense really is. Chicago has proved very solid defensively in their first year led by experienced defensemen like captain Cam Woods (1g 6a 48 LB) and Darryl Gibson (1g 1a 27 LB). So the question for the Swarm offense is, was last weekend’s performance a trend or a mirage?

Don’t expect the Swarm to score 15 to 17 goals like they did last weekend, but don’t expect them to score only 10 either. The players on the team have been looking forward to avenging the Shamrox, a team they believe they are better than. In addition, many Swarm fans, including myself, will be making the trip to Chicago through a road trip put together by the team. With a bit of home cooking in the stands and the momentum built up over the last three games, I see the Swarm extending their winning streak to four with a 13-11 victory.

Minnesota Swarm

Head Coach: Duane Jacobs
General Manager & Assistant Head Coach: Marty O'Neill
Assistant Head Coach: Derek Moffat

22-F-R-Kasey Beirnes
18-D-R-Andrew Biers
10-D-L-Brock Boyle
50-D-R-Ryan Cousins {C}
19-F-L-Chad Culp
1-G-L-Matt Disher
73-F-L-Dean Hill
47-D-R-Travis Hill (FO)
90-F-L-Mike Hominuck
77-D-L-Riley Kemp
55-D-R-Michael Kilby (A)
15-F-L-Spencer Martin
6-D-L-Ashton McLean
39-D-R-Mark Miyashita (FO)
12-D-R-Eric Pacey
93-G-R-Nick Patterson
17-F-R-Sean Pollock
26-D-L-Ryan Sharp
48-F-R-Scott Stewart
23-D-R-Jon Sullivan
16-D-L-Noah Talbot
40-F-L-Jamie Taylor
44-F-R-Ryan Ward (A)

Chicago Shamrox

General Manager and Head Coach: Jamie Batley
Assistant Head Coach: Bobby Keast
Assistant Head Coach: Steve Evans

25-D-L-Drew Candy
13-F-L-Jason Clark
43-G-R-Derek Collins
7-D-L-Kyle Dupont
19-D-L-Darryl Gibson (former Swarm)
27-F-R-Mat Giles (A)
16-F-R-Jon Harasym (former Swarm)
41-D-R-Zach Heffner
11-D-R-Mike Hobbins
21-D-L-Brad Holbrough
88-F-L-Cody Jacobs
9-D-R-Bryan Kazarian (FO)
26-D-R-Mike Kirk
91-D-R-Corey Leigh
4-D-L-Carter Livingstone (A)
57/81-F-R-Matt Marchildon
33-F-L-Bill McGlone
35-G-R-Brandon Miller
10-F-L-Phil Montgomery
63-D-R-Thomas Montour
55-F-L-Chris Panos
18-F-R-Josh Wasson-McQuigge
22-D-L-Cam Woods {C}