Ryan Lee Scores Game Winner As Mammoth Topple Swarm

Shawn Slaght

I've been a professional journalist since 2005 and I've covered sports across Saskatchewan and Alberta including World Cup Alpine Skiing, national and world curling championships and junior hockey. I've been cover lacrosse and the Saskatchewan Rush since 2017.

Ryan Lee scored the game-winner with 38 seconds left in regulation as the Colorado Mammoth picked up a 13-12 win on the road against the Georgia Swarm on Friday night.

The game went back and forth all night, with the Swarm holding a 6-5 lead at halftime.

Lee ended the night with two goals and six assists to lead the Mammoth. Connor Robinson found his groove again with two goals and four assists for six points.

It was a breakout game for Swarm rookie Toron Eccleston, who led the team with seven points, including four goals and three assists. Colorado’s defense did a solid job of keeping Lyle Thompson in check. Although he finished the game with five assists, he was unable to find the back of the net.

When you have Dillon Ward in net for Colorado and Brett Dobson in goal for Georgia, you know it’s going to be a goaltender’s duel. Ward stopped 39 of 51 shots, while Dobson finished with 32 saves on 45 shots.

First Quarter Lead For The Mammoth

Colorado got the scoring started 3:10 into the game, with Connor Kelly finding the back of the net. Miles Thompson replied for Georgia 26 seconds later to tie it up.

Bryan Cole then gave the Swarm the lead, 2-1, at the 9:43 mark.

The Mammoth finished off the quarter with a three-goal run in the final 3:05 of the first. Zed Williams started the run to tie the game 2-2. Robinson added to the score with 2:33 on the clock to give the Mammoth a 3-2 lead. Will Malcom scored a buzzer-beater with two seconds left as the Mammoth led 4-2 after the first quarter.

Swarm Come Back in the Second

With a team as talented as Georgia, you knew they weren’t going to lie down, and they opened the second quarter with a four-goal run.

Shayne Jackson opened the second-quarter scoring at 1:40. Seth Oakes followed that up at 2:04 to knot the game 4-4.

Georgia retook the lead at the 4:48 mark off a goal by Cole. Miles Thompson then struck on the power play at 8:44 to make it 6-4 for the Swarm.

Colorado regained some momentum at the end of the second. Robinson found the back of the net with 1:39 left on the clock to make it 6-5 at the half.

Back-and-Forth Second Half

Eli McLaughlin was a thorn in the side of the Swarm to open the second half. He scored at 3:02 and added another marker 56 seconds later to give the Mammoth a 7-6 lead.

Cole tied it right back up off a feed from Jackson at 4:31, starting a three-goal run by the Swarm. Brendan Bomberry scored at 9:49 to put Georgia ahead 8-7.

Eccleston scored his first of the game at 10:20 to put the Swarm up by two. However, the Mammoth wouldn’t go away. Malcom rounded out the scoring on the power play with 1:18 left on the clock, as the Swarm led 9-8 heading into the final frame.

Ryan Lee with the Winner

Of course, no lead is safe in the National Lacrosse League.

Eccleston scored 39 seconds into the fourth quarter to put the Swarm back up by two.

Not to be outdone, the Mammoth went on a two-goal run. Williams scored on the power play at 2:59, followed by Lee at 4:43, and we were tied 10-10.

Georgia looked to regain momentum as Eccleston scored his hat-trick marker at 6:24. Kelly replied for the Mammoth at 7:46 to keep it tied.

Eccleston struck again at 9:49, as the momentum continued to shift from one team to the other.

Williams scored to tie the game, and then, with 38 seconds left in the game, Lee walked in and put a bouncer past Dobson for the game-winner to make the final 13-12.