Vancouver, B.C. – After a bye week, the Vancouver Warriors faceoff against the Georgia Swarm on Saturday.
Both teams have only played one game through the first two weeks into the season, and it’s early to talk standings, but the Swarm are in second place in the NLL coming into the game against Vancouver.
Georgia is coming off a 16-10 win over the Colorado Mammoth, with two of the Swarm’s goals coming on the power play.
The Swarm are highlighted by brothers Jeremy and Lyle Thompson. Right-handed forward, Lyle, was a first overall in the 2015 NLL Entry Draft, righty transition player Jeremy was drafted ninth overall in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, and Miles was taken third overall in the 2014 NLL Entry Draft. Miles Thompson has been battling injury and didn’t play against the Mammoth last week.
In their first game of the season this past Saturday, Lyle had eight points (4g-4a) against Colorado and picked up four loose balls in the win. Brendan Bomberry, who made the All-Rookie team during the 2018-19 season, scored three goals and three assists as did former Vancouver Stealth forward Seth Oakes.
Jeremy scored a goal and picked up a game-high 10 loose balls and Andrew Kew scored one to go along with his six assists.
Swarm goalie Brett Dobson got the win between the pipes, stopping 39 shots.
The Warriors dropped their home opener 11-7 to Panther City December 9th, but Vancouver had a strong start, opening up the scoring and taking a 3-1 lead into the second quarter. Panther City took a one-goal lead heading into the half and never looked back.
After the loss to Panther City, Curt Malawsky says the game was a good learning experience to continue doing the things they did well and work on things they need to improve before matching up against Colorado.
“I told the o-guys go to the box, get to the box and shoot the ball, that’s the only way you’re going to get out of something. On our wall in our dressing room, it says ‘Honest Effort, Honest Result’ and there’s no way to not have an honest effort and not put the work in,” Malawsky said.
The Warriors out-shot Panther City 50-42, and many of their opportunities Malawsky mentioned were “Grade A chances”. All of Vancouver’s scoring came from the left side of the floor, so getting some scoring from the right side will help open up space.
Adam Charalambides and defender Reid Bowering each had two goals in their first week of action against Panther City. Left-handed forward Ryan Martel paced the Warriors in points with three (1-2-3), rookie transition, Marcus Klarich, scored one (his first NLL goal) and veteran forward Riley Loewen scored a goal as well.
The Warriors’ defence was tough, only allowing 42 shots and did a good job of controlling play through Panther City’s press. Bowering was active on both ends of the floor picking up 11 loose balls as well as causing two turnovers.
Malawsky spoke highly of his rookies in their first NLL games.
“Owen Grant, he’s deserving being the third overall [pick in the 2022 NLL Entry Draft] and Laity, he just lives off the cross check and he’s such an animal out there. He hounds guys, he gets up and down the floor really well. Klarich has great feet, he can play in the National Lacrosse League based on his feet and he gets to the middle of the floor pretty good. He had a good game, I liked how he played,” Malawsky said.
The two teams face off on Saturday, December 16th at Rogers Arena at 7 p.m.
