Caden Balint – Albany Correspondent, Stream Punk Sports / All Lacrosse All The Time
FIREWOLVES ASSEMBLE! On Saturday night, the Albany FireWolves (5-9) hosted the Georgia Swarm (7-6) for Marvel Night at MVP Arena. Coming off a big road victory over the Philadelphia Wings, the FireWolves aimed to secure their second consecutive win, doing so in front of the largest crowd in franchise history.
Fast-Paced Start
From the opening whistle, the FireWolves looked to energize the home crowd, but it was the Swarm who struck first. Shayne Jackson, who finished with a hat trick and six points, silenced the arena with an early goal. Albany, however, wasted no time responding, as Alex Simmons found the back of the net to tie the game.
From there, Albany’s offense took control. The FireWolves built a two-goal lead heading into the second quarter thanks to goals from Ethan Walker, Sam Firth, and a highlight-reel transition goal from Nick Chaykowsky. Despite Albany dictating the offensive pressure, the Swarm refused to let the FireWolves pull away.
Back-and-Forth Battle
As the second quarter began, Albany looked to build on its strong start. Just 30 seconds in, Tye Kurtz extended the lead to three, but Jackson quickly responded for Georgia to keep the Swarm within striking distance.
The second quarter turned into an offensive shootout, with both teams exchanging goals at a rapid pace, combining for ten in the frame. Every time the FireWolves tried to create separation, the Swarm clawed their way back. Georgia stayed competitive thanks to goals from Jackson, Andrew Kew, Brendan Bomberry, and a clutch buzzer-beater from Bryan Cole just before halftime.
Albany’s newest acquisitions, Kyle Jackson and Jonathan Peshko, made their presence felt. Jackson, who had five points in his debut against Philadelphia, continued his strong play with four points (1G, 3A). Peshko may not have found the scoresheet, but his contributions were evident—setting picks, screening Georgia’s goaltender Brett Dobson, and creating space for his teammates. The FireWolves entered halftime with a narrow 9-7 lead.
The Dawn of Defense
When the third quarter began, both teams sought to establish momentum, but instead, the game turned into a defensive battle. Albany and Georgia locked in on defense, shutting down scoring opportunities and holding each other scoreless throughout the quarter.
Penalties became a factor, with six combined infractions in the frame, yet neither team could capitalize on the power play. Dobson was outstanding in net for Georgia, finishing the night with 38 saves on 49 shots. However, the spotlight shined brightest on Albany’s Doug Jamieson, who recorded 44 saves on 54 shots, making several clutch stops during penalty kills to preserve the FireWolves’ lead.
The Battle Goes Late
As the fourth quarter commenced, it seemed destined to mirror the third—until Kyle Jackson broke the drought two minutes in, restoring Albany’s three-goal cushion. What followed was another defensive stalemate, with Jamieson and Dobson trading highlight-reel saves to keep the game in check.
Late in the quarter, the Swarm found life and mounted a furious comeback. UAlbany product Lyle Thompson, held scoreless up to that point, broke through with back-to-back goals, bringing Georgia within one. Moments later, the Swarm tied the game at 10, sending the crowd into a frenzy and setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
With overtime looming, a late penalty against Georgia gave Albany one last opportunity. On the ensuing power play, the FireWolves executed flawlessly. A crisp passing sequence between Simmons, Walker, and Williams created an open look at the point, and the rookie didn’t hesitate—rifling home the game-winner to send the arena into celebration mode.
Key Performers
Albany FireWolves:
- Dyson Williams – 2 goals (game-winning goal), 1 assist
- Tye Kurtz – 2 goals, 2 assists
- Kyle Jackson – 1 goal, 3 assists
- Ethan Walker – 1 goal, 5 assists
- Alex Simmons – 1 goal, 3 assists
- Sam Firth – 2 goals
- Doug Jamieson – 44 saves on 54 shots
Georgia Swarm:
- Shayne Jackson – 3 goals, 3 assists
- Lyle Thompson – 2 goals, 1 assist
- Andrew Kew – 1 goal, 1 assist
- Bryan Cole – 2 goals
- Brendan Bomberry –1 goal, 2 assists
- Brett Dobson – 38 saves on 49 shots
Playoff Race Heats Up
With this win, the FireWolves keep their slim playoff hopes alive and move one step closer to contention. Their next challenge is a massive NLL Finals rematch against the Buffalo Bandits—an almost must-win game if Albany wants to stay in the hunt.
Meanwhile, the Swarm, now at 7-6, will need to regroup quickly as they continue to battle for positioning in the National Lacrosse League.
This victory proved that the FireWolves won’t go down without a fight. With momentum on their side, they look to finish the season strong.