DULUTH, Ga. (February 2, 2023) – After a two-week bye, the Georgia Swarm (0-4) are back in action this Friday night in Denver, Colo. The Swarm take on the Colorado Mammoth (3-2) for the first time since opening day of the 2021-22 season (Dec. 4, 2021).
Georgia is search of their first win of the season as they’ve dropped four-straight. The Swarm lost three at home and most recently fell by two (11-9) on the road to the top-ranked scoring offense, the Buffalo Bandits. Although the squad came up short, it was the most complete team we saw this season, challenging the Bandits on both ends of the floor after falling by nine the week earlier.
Colorado is coming off a loss as they fell, 13-9 to the San Diego Seals on Jan. 28. San Diego jumped out to a 5-0 lead before Colorado got on the board. The Mammoth didn’t have a scoring run until late in the third when Warren Jeffrey and Connor Robinson notched back-to-back goals. Colorado found their stride in the fourth quarter, scoring four-straight goals but ran out of time before closing the deal.
Colorado holds an advantage over Georgia in the all-time series matchup, posting a 20-9 record. The Mammoth are currently on a five-game winning streak against the Swarm with Georgia recording its last win over Colorado on March 1, 2017, where the Swarm dominated the Mammoth, 21-13. Although Georgia only has nine wins against Colorado under its belt, four of the victories happened on the road.
The Swarm and Mammoth are neck and neck in goals for and goals against per game. Georgia totals 41 goals this season (15th), averaging 10.25 per game while Colorado tallies 47 (14th), averaging 9.40 per game. Both Georgia and Colorado have had 58 goals scored against them this season with Colorado ranking second in goals against per game, averaging 11.60 and Georgia third with 14.50.
Andrew Kew stills leads the team in points (21) and assists (14) with Lyle Thompson closely behind, totaling 19 points. Lyle Thompson also leads the Swarm in goals, notching 10 while Kew follows with seven.
Colorado’s Eli McLaughlin leads the Mammoth in points with 23 while tying Rhys Duch for first in assists, notching 13 each. Connor Robinson tops the Mammoth charts in goals, scoring 12 throughout five games.
Georgia’s goalies Craig Wende and Brett Dobson have started two games each with Dobson taking the last two. Dobson totals 75 saves, a .740 save percentage, and a 13.55 goals against average while Wende posts 79 saves, a .720 save percentage, and a 14.41 goals against average.
Although Dillon Ward is the Mammoth’s starting goaltender, logging 216:55 minutes played, 173 saves, a .820 save percentage, and a 10.51 goals against average, he didn’t suit up last week against the San Diego Seals as he was placed on the Injured Reserve List. At the moment it is unsure if we will see him in net on Feb. 3. With Ward on the IR, Tyler Carlson stepped up last week in San Diego, stopping 44 Seals shots with a .772 save percentage.
Following the Colorado matchup, the Swarm play 13-straight games. Georgia does not have another bye weekend for the remainder of the season. The next time Georgia takes the floor is on Friday, Feb. 10, back home in Duluth, Ga. The Swarm host the Toronto Rock for the first game of the back-to-back series against one another.
Swarm Spotlight:
- Andrew Kew tops the team in points (21) and assists (14) while ranking second in goals (7)
- Lyle Thompson leads the team in goals with 10 and sits second in points (19)
- TJ Comizio leads the Swarm in caused turnovers with seven as well as ranks tied for first in NLL shooting percentage, averaging 100 percent
- Jeremy Thompson scooped up 37 loose balls throughout four games, landing him first on the team. Thompson also tallied four caused turnovers and three blocked shots
- Ryan Lanchbury is tied for ninth place among NLL rookies in points, totaling five
- Against NLL defenders in points, Comizio ranks tied for fourth with seven while Adam Wiedemann is tied for sixth with five
- Georgia ranks fifth in NLL power plays, converting 8-of-16 man up opportunities
- The Swarm rank third in goals against per game, totaling 58 and averaging 14.50 per game
Eyes on the Mammoth:
- Eli McLaughlin leads the squad in points (23) and assists (13) while ranking second in goals (10)
- Connor Robinson tops the team in goals, recording 12
- Robert Hope and Warren Jeffrey have forced the most turnovers on the team, causing four each
- Evan Downey totals six blocked shots which is the most on the Mammoth squad
- Rookie Evan Downey is ranked tied for 10th against other NLL first timers in points, totaling three (3A)
- Dillon Ward is the team’s starting netminder, logging 216 minutes played, 173 saves, a .820 save percentage and a 10.51 goals against average
- With Ward on the IR Tyler Carlson has stepped up in net and now records 64 saves, a .760 save percentage, and a 13.97 goals against average
- The Mammoth offense ranks 11th overall in power plays, scoring on 8-of-21 (38 percent) man-up opportunities
- Colorado’s backline held opponents scoreless on 12-of-21 (57 percent) situations
- The Mammoth rank 14th in goals for per game, notching 47 this season (9.40 per game)
- Colorado sits second in goals against per game, totaling 58 (11.60 per game)
Milestones:
- Brendan Bomberry needs three points to reach 100 in his career.
- Bryan Cole needs three points to reach 100 in his career.
- Kason Tarbell needs five more loose balls to reach 100 in his career.
Where to Watch:
- ESPN+ – Use your ESPN+ account (or create a new one) to watch the game live Saturday, February 3, 2023, and all season long
- Watch in person at six Gwinnett County Taco Mac locations: Buford, Cumming, Duluth, Johns Creek, Lawrenceville & Suwanee
- TSN – If located in Canada, you can log into your TSN account to watch the game live Saturday, February 3, 2023, and all season long
