Eric Walsh | mnswarm.com

    SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Forward Craig Point tallied six points (4-2=6) and goalie Nick Patterson blocked 29 shots to lead the Minnesota Swarm in a 13-9 win over the Chicago Shamrox on Friday night at Xcel Energy Center.

    A crowd of 13,004, the fourth highest gathering at Xcel Energy Center to view a National Lacrosse League (NLL) game, witnessed the East Division battle. Minnesota, 7-3 overall, remains perfect at home (4-0) while the Shamrox fall to 1-7. The win halts a three-game Swarm losing streak.

    The Swarm posted seven unanswered goals to take an 8-2 lead at halftime. It was similar to the 12-goal run Minnesota had in a 16-9 home triumph over the New York Titans on February 9 (the Swarm led the Titans 11-0 after two quarters).

    Apple Valley native Colin Achenbach, the first Minnesota-born player to sign a contract the Swarm, appeared in his second NLL contest against the Shamrox. The 24-year-old forward debuted with the Swarm on Feb. 9 with four loose balls. He was also the first Minnesotan to be named a High School All-American in lacrosse. Achenbach has not scored in either of his two NLL outings.

    After missing the last two games due to injury, it didn’t take long for F Andy Secore to find the net again. Tied for the team lead in assists (25) coming in, Secore scored his 17th goal of the season just 1:50 into the match. Secore added another goal with 3:47 left in the second quarter and finished up with four points (2-2=4). Minnesota tied its season-high for most shots with 60.

    Former Swarm D Brock Boyle faced his old club for the first time, totaling one assist. Boyle recorded 51 points over three seasons (2005-07) in Minnesota, including a record for single-season most points by a defenseman in franchise history with 24 (11g, 13a) in 2006.

    During a special halftime ceremony, the Swarm officially retired its first jersey number in club history. KARE 11 sportscaster Eric Perkins appeared in a game last season on January 13, 2007 vs. the Shamrox at Xcel Energy Center. To commemorate the occasion, Perkins bobbleheads were issued to the first 5,000 fans in attendance.

    Minnesota is slated to play the Shamrox three more times this season (twice on the road). The two teams meet again on March 29 in Chicago. Minnesota closes out its 2008 regular-season schedule with a home-and-home series vs. Chicago (April 25 in Saint Paul, April 26 at Chicago).