Swarm Earn First Home Win With Victory Over Knighthawks

 - Photo Gallery Courtesy Of Cedar Lake Speedway >>
 - Scoop 'N Shoot Photo Gallery Courtesy Of GB LAX

 - Swarm vs. Knighthawks Highlights 1st Half | 2nd Half >>
 - Simpson Post-Game Interview >>
 - Performance Team Highlights >>

Gameday Archive >>
Box Score >>

St. Paul, MN - The Minnesota Swarm stopped the Rochester Knighthawks, 12-11, to claim its first win of the season at Xcel Energy Center Friday night in National Lacrosse League action. Chad Culp scored the game-winning power play goal with 3:05 remaining in the game. The win also snapped a seven-game losing streak for the Swarm. Matt Disher made 37 saves to earn his third win of the season. Kelly Hall led Minnesota in scoring with six points on two goals and four assists. Ryan Ward added two goals and three assists for the Swarm.

John Grant led Rochester in scoring with three goals and four assists but was in the penalty box when Culp scored the game-winning goal. Steve Toll added three goals in his first game with the Knighthawks.

After falling behind 1-0 on a goal by Grant 1:02 into the game, the Swarm responded by notching the next five goals in the quarter to take an early 5-1 lead. Brock Boyle, Ryder Bateman, Kerry Susheski, Ward and Riley Kemp all registered goals for the home team.  Rochester finally put a halt to Minnesota's strong start when Toll beat Matt Disher to make the score 5-2 after one quarter of play. The Swarm's strong start was helped in part by converting both of its power play chances in the first quarter as Bateman and Ward tallied power play markers.

Minnesota upped its lead to 6-2 on a power play goal from Hall at the 7:06 mark of the second quarter.  For Hall it was his 13th power play goal of the season and extended his streak to eight consecutive games with a power play goal.  It took Rochester more than 13 minutes to score, but goals by Grant and Scott Evans in the final two minutes of the quarter cut the Swarm's lead to 6-4 at halftime. The Knighthawks outshot Minnesota 28-27 in the first half.

Rochester continued its momentum into the third quarter as Mike Accursi, Shawn Williams and Evans scored the first three goals of the period to help the Knighthawks take their first lead of the game, 7-6. Another power play goal from Hall tied the game 7-7 at the 7:14 mark. Rochester regained the lead as Toll recorded back-to-back goals, the first on the power play, the second shorthanded. Power play goals from D'Arcy Berthiaume and Ward finished the third quarter scoring and helped Minnesota tie the score 9-9 heading into the fourth quarter.

A power play goal 1:24 into the fourth quarter by Williams put the Knighthawks back on top by a goal. The Swarm countered with a nice one-handed goal by Susheski to tie the game. The clubs then exchanged goals as Grant scored for Rochester and Berthiaume for Minnesota to keep the game deadlocked. After four game-tying goals the Swarm finally took a second half lead on a power play goal from Culp at the 11:55 mark as he picked up a loose ball behind the net and beat O'Toole as both players raced to the front of the goal. The goal proved to be the game-winner as Minnesota earned its first home win of the season and snapped a seven-game losing streak.

The clubs will battle again Saturday night at Rochester to complete a home-and-home series against the Knighthawks.

Rochester oushot Minnesota 48-43 for the contest. The Swarm converted seven-of-ten power play chances while the Knighthawks went three-for-six.

Prior to tonight's game, the Minnesota Swarm held the 2005 Swarm Scoop 'n Shoot Competition presented by Gait Brothers Lacrosse.  There were two age categories for competition, ages 9-to-11 and ages 12-to-14.  Participants ran against the clock to scoop up six balls and shoot them at the goal.  The winners in each category are listed below:

Boys 9-11
Cooper Lorsung 29:81

Girls 9-11
Kayla Germain

Boys 12-14
Sean Folley 26:07

Girls 12-14
Erika Kuznia

Attendance: 7,764

Mike Simpson talks about this weekend's home-and-home series against Rochester in the NLL's weekly coaches conference call. READ THE TRANSCRIPT>>

 - Minnesota Swarm Game Notes >>
 - Rochester Knighthawks Game Notes >>

Minnesota returns to Xcel Energy Center Friday night to host the Rochester Knighthawks for the first time this season.  The Swarm dropped a hard-fought 13-11 decision at Buffalo last Friday to extended its losing streak to seven games. The Swarm is also looking for its second win against an East Division opponent this season, having dropped its last seven games against interdivision rivals following an opening night win at Rochester (1/1).

Headwaters Bar & Restaurant - If you want to feast, check out the Headwaters Bar & Restaurant, located on the Club Level at Xcel Energy Center. Make your reservations today by calling (651) 726-8400. All patrons who present a copy of this email to their Headwaters server will receive a $5.00 per adult and $2.50 per child discount off of their dinner bill. Learn more about Headwaters >>

Ticket Deals & Special Promotions

• Scoop 'N Shoot - The Swarm Scoop 'N Shoot Competition is for kids age nine to 14. Each participant will receive a game ticket, event t-shirt and participate in the Scoop 'N Shoot event for just $15. Family and friends will get a discounted lower level ticket for just $11. Winners in each Scoop 'N Shoot catergory will be recognized on the Xcel Energy Center scoreboard. Learn about Scoop 'N Shoot >>
• NASCAR Night - The Minnesota Swarm and Cedar Lake Speeway have teamed up to offer fans a great ticket offer. Fans that purchase tickets through this promotion will receive a ticket to a racing event at Cedar Lake Speedway with a chance to win tickets to a larger regional NASCAR event. Get your NASCAR Night ticket now >>
• Channel 45 Fan Pack -  Fans that purchase the Channel 45 Fan Pack will receive four sodas, four hot dogs and four game tickets for just $45. Learn about Channel 45 Fan Pack >> 
• College Rush - The college rush program offers students the best available seat on game night for just $10 when a college ID is presented at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office.