“Muffler” Mike Kostiuk – Senior Correspondent, All Lacrosse All The Time
The Ottawa Black Bears faced the Georgia Swarm at Gas South Arena to kick off a full slate of games in Week 7. The Black Bears were coming off a tough defensive game against San Diego, losing 6-5. Meanwhile, the Swarm dropped their first game of the season to Rochester 16-9 last week. On the strength of hat tricks from three different players, the Black Bears triumphed 14-10 to improve to 3-2 on the year. Ottawa hosts Vancouver in Week 8. Georgia falls to 4-2, suffering their second straight loss; they’ll travel to Calgary next week.
Slow and steady first half for Black Bears
The Swarm got things going quickly, with Lyle Thompson scoring on a dunk from behind the net at 1:17. The call stood after a review, and Thompson added another goal 34 seconds later. Joey Cupido then scored (2:03) to make it 3-0. Larson Sundown (6:48) broke the run for Ottawa, but Bryan Cole (8:38) pushed the lead back to three. Goals from Kiel Matisz (12:01) and Taggart Clark (13:08) cut the Swarm’s lead to 4-3.
Connor Kearnan (0:23 second quarter) tied the game for the Black Bears, then a power play goal from Jacob Dunbar (2:07) gave Ottawa their first lead of the night. Thompson’s hat trick goal (6:59) tied the game 5-5, but Jeff Teat (14:13) put Ottawa back up 6-5 going into halftime with a fluky goal that ricocheted off a Georgia defender’s hands and just over the shoulder of goaltender Brett Dobson.
https://twitter.com/ottblackbears/status/1877897397847650694
Black Bears pour it on in the second half for big road win
Teat picked up where he left off in the third quarter, scoring his second goal (1:28) for a 7-5 lead. Thompson (2:34; fourth of the game) and Sundown (3:18; second of the game) traded goals to make it 8-6. Bryan Cole (4:36) cut the lead to one, then Thompson scored his fifth goal just 18 seconds later to tie the game at 8. But the Black Bears went on a three-goal run, with Dunbar (9:17; 14:52) and Sundown (10:37) each notching their hat trick as Ottawa entered the fourth quarter with an 11-8 lead.
Shayne Jackson (1:48 fourth quarter) narrowed the margin to two with his 350th career goal. However, Clark’s second (8:01) and Kearnan’s second (10:01) gave the Black Bears their largest lead of the night, 13-9. Cole’s hat trick goal (11:27) pulled the Swarm within three, but Teat closed the scoring with his hat trick goal (11:45) to secure a significant road win for Ottawa.
https://twitter.com/ottblackbears/status/1877900352445428133
Other Stats of Note
Black Bears: Teat (3g, 5a); Sundown (3g, 3a); Dunbar (3g, 2a); Kearnan (2g, 2a); Clark (2g, 2a); Matisz (1g, 3a)
Swarm: Thompson (5g, 3a); Cole (3g); Cupido (1g, 1a); Jackson (1g)
Power Play: OTT 1 for 1; GA 0 for 4
Zach Higgins (OTT): 41 saves; Brett Dobson (GA): 33 saves
Matt Marinier (OTT): 3a; 10 Loose Balls (led all players); 1 Blocked Shot; 1 Caused Turnover
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