By Anthony Caruso
Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 1/18/14
The Minnesota Swarm used a 6-1 run in the second quarter and held off a late rally to claim an 11-10 victory today over the host Philadelphia Wings in National Lacrosse League action at the Wells Fargo Center.
The Wings (1-3) dropped their third in a row and second straight at home by one goal. They play Sunday at Minnesota.
“Obviously we are frustrated with three losses and again we dug ourselves into a hole in the second period,” said Wings Head Coach Blane Harrison. “We need to put together a whole game and have all parts of the team work together.”
Forwards Ryan Ward (1 goal, 6 assists) and Jordan Hall (4 goals, 2 assists) combined for 13 of the Wings 30 points on the night. Hall recorded his second hat trick of the season and third multi-goal game. Forward Kyle Buchanan kept his scoring streak alive with one goal and two assists. Buchanan has had a goal in four consecutive games.
The Swarm took a 7-4 halftime lead, but the Wings fought back and tied it, 9-9, on fourth-quarter goals by Ward and Garrett Thul. Minnesota went ahead for good with 5:17 to play on a goal by Andrew Suitor.
“It’s tough,” said Wings captain Brodie Merrill. “We can’t draw any moral victories from these losses. But we’ve made a lot of chances in the end of both of these games. We have to stick with it, because it’s only a matter of time before things are going to go our way.”
The Swarm were led to their first win of the season by Transition Player Jordan MacIntosh (2 goals, 3 assists) and Forward Callum Crawford (1 goal, 4 assists). They combined for 10 of the team’s 27 points. MacIntosh also contributed with 14 face-off wins on the evening.
“This is the second straight game that we’ve given up 6 goals in the second quarter,” said Harrison. “You can’t win many games when you put yourself in that kind of hole.”
The Wings jumped out to a 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter. Hall scored, along with Buchanan, and Thul.
Evan Kirk made 43 saves for the Wings. The Swarm started out with Tyler Carlson, who was replaced three minutes into play by Zach Higgins (31 saves). Evan Kirk had 43 saves for the Wings.
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