NLL – There was lots of National Lacrosse League (NLL) action this past weekend as the teams vie for playoff positions this spring.
Sunday night in Georgia, the Swarm overtook the Rochester Knighthawks 15-9 in a game, which Six Nations’ Adam Bomberry, recently called to active duty by the Knighthawks, score his first NLL goal.
The Swarm was led by Lyle Thompson’s 10-point night (6G,4A), brothers Miles Thompson recorded four assists and Jerome added to the win (1G,1A). The return of Johnny Powless produced two goals and three assists in both the Swarm win Sunday, and their 13-12 win over the Toronto Rock Feb. 17.
Meanwhile, at the Mohegan Sun Arena, the Buffalo Bandits and the New England BlackWolves were in a titanic battle with the Bandits winning 16-15 with Mitch de Snoo scoring, unassisted the game winner 25 seconds into the extra frame.
Saturday, the Rochester Knighthawks continued their downward spiral, losing to the Toronto Rock 10-6 at the Blue Cross Arena in Rochester. The K-hawks, decimated by injuries to Sid Smith, Cody Jamieson (out for the season) and others have not won since January 28, losing four straight in February. Adam Bomberry made his mark scoring a Rochester powerplay goal late in the fourth quarter albeit in a losing effort. He has a goal and an assist in three games played so far this season.
Out west the Saskatchewan Rush inched past Colorado Mammoth 8-7, and Vancouver bested Calgary 13-10 in Six Nations Vaughn Harris’ first NLL appearance as a Roughneck.
“My brother, Roger Vyse, is the person I’ve always looked up to,” says Harris. He’s been my role model. He showed me what was possible and he showed me that you can make your dreams come true. He is the big reason I’m here today.
Friday night at the ACC the Rock took the Swarm to overtime where Johnny Powless marked his return to the NLL with three goals including the OT game winner, and two assists.
“Just being back’s awesome,” said Powless. “Being back with the guys is really fun, and it’s a bonus when we win both games.”
The Thompson boys continued on their torrid points pace for the Swarm with a combined 15 points, Lyle leading the way with a goal and eight assists.
In New England Friday night, the Buffalo Bandits held onto a 14-11 win.
The NLL standings heading into this coming weekend, shows the Haudenosaunee heavy Georgia Swarm leading in the east 1.5 games ahead of Toronto. They are followed by New England, four games back, Buffalo 4.5 games back and in last place, the Rochester Knighthawks who are five games back with a dismal two wins and six losses so far, about halfway into the season.
This coming Saturday, Toronto is in Buffalo, Calgary is in Saskatchewan, Rochester travels to Vancouver, and on Sunday, Colorado is in New England.
