Lyle Thompson Heroics Keep Rock Winless, as Swarm Win 10-9

Photo Credit: Georgia Swarm

A controversial inconclusive call in the fourth quarter and Lyle Thompson game-winner in the final minute of regulation highlighted a close 10-9 win for the Georgia Swarm (2-0) against the Toronto Rock (0-3) at Gas South Arena.

The Rock, off to their worst start since 2016 when they started the season 0-6, used their strong transition game to tie the game in the second half. The defense turned in their strongest performance of the young season, but the offense struggled to capitalize 5-on-5 and bury their good looks.

“It seemed like we felt a bit more comfortable with each other than the first few weeks,” Rock goaltender Nick Rose said about the defense’s strong effort on the night. “I think they (the Swarm) had a few transition goals, couple power play goals. 5-on-5, we were real solid; they kept the shots where I wanted to see them.”

Georgia wasted no time kicking the scoring off with a low bouncer from Bryan Cole. Josh Dawick, who leads the Rock in points, got underneath his defender to crash the crease and even the score. Over six minutes later, Seth Oakes ended the tie, followed by the first of the game from Thompson.

Chris Boushy mimicked Dawick’s crease crash, albeit in transition, to tuck the ball shortside in transition at the start of the second quarter. But the Swarm kept the pressure on and potted a pair from Thompson and Andrew Kew. Thompson’s second goal of the night was a jaw-dropping reminder of the incredible creative talent he is, beating 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Mitch de Snoo on the loose ball near the boards, then making an incredible diving goal from behind the cage that cleared Rose.

“Usually when a guy scores, there’s a lot of yelling and high-fiving,” Swarm head coach Ed Comeau said. “When Lyle does something like that, there’s a lot of mouths open, eyes big, like ‘Oh my god, did you just see that” type of look. We’ve become accustomed to it … It’s a typical Lyle-type goal, make something out of absolutely nothing.”

Trips to the penalty box became more and more frequent as the quarter went on, with both the Rock and Swarm netted a power play goal. Halftime came with the Swarm up 6-3.

Photo Credit: Georgia Swarm

Weathering more penalty issues, the Rock defense buckled down in the second half and let their transition game chip away at the Swarm’s lead. Boushy’s second transition marker of the game was balanced by a Swarm fast break goal of their own. Corey Small’s second power play goal on Saturday was followed up by Chris Weier’s breakaway. Heading into the final frame, the Rock were down by just a goal, 7-6.

Boushy’s hat trick tied the game up for the first time since Dawick’s goal in the first quarter. But the Swarm tapped into their own transition game, as Shayne Jackson received a long feed from goalie Brett Dobson to retake the lead.

Controversy reared its head soon afterwards. Aaron Woods made a nifty play that seemingly scored his first goal as a Rock player, but the referee called him in the crease. As head coach Matt Sawyer was reviewing the play on the bench to see if he should throw the challenge flag, the Swarm scored on the other end, Kew with a transition tally coming off the bench. Sawyer lobbed the challenge flag, but the review came back inconclusive, a huge swing that put the Swarm up by two.

Despite the setback, the Rock continued to battle. Dan Craig burned his defender underneath for his first goal of the season, and rookie Jake Darlison snagged a Swarm pass up top and ran across the floor to score his first professional goal in his first NLL game.

“Real happy for him,” Rose said about the rookie defender. “He’s obviously been working really hard in training camp and practices and that kind of stuff. For him to get his first goal in his first game, happy for the kid. There’s probably going to be a lot more to come for him.”

Tied at nine, coincidental penalties late meant regulation would end with the two teams 4-on-4. Thompson played hero, spin dodging past his defender to sting shortside past Rose’s hip in the final minute of play. The Rock would have final possession with 28.8 seconds left, but goalie Brett Dobson made the final stop, chucked the ball down the floor, and let his team muck it up in their offensive end until time expired. Georgia won another one-goal game, this time 10-9.

Boushy (3G), Dawick (1G, 2A), and Mark Matthews (3A) each finished with three points. Rose made 35 stops on the night for a .777 Sv%.

“Good effort from us, good compete,” Sawyer said. “One of those nights where you feel like you might have deserved a little bit better. Much better than our first couple outings, but we need to be better moving forward in order to find our first win and go on a run from there. We’re not going anywhere, so we’ll get out of this.”

The Swarm were led in scoring by Kew with 6 points (3G, 3A), then Thompson with 5 (3G, 2A). Dobson’s 46 saves meant an .836 Sv% and win.

Photo Credit: Georgia Swarm

Inconclusive

Down 8-7, Woods snuck behind the crease following an offensive reset and received a pass from Dawick behind the defense on the right side. Adam Wiedemann turned around as Woods pivoted towards Dobson and the cage, checking his name bar. Propelled forward, Woods got the shot off past the numbers on Dobson’s left arm. The referee immediately signaled no goal, saying Woods was in the crease. The Rock forwards ran back to the bench signaling for a challenge flag to immediately be thrown. While Sawyer tried to review it on his iPad, the Swarm pushed up the floor, with Kew scoring off the bench.

Whether he saw the review in time or not, Sawyer had no other option but to throw the challenge flag in a game this close. Getting Woods’ goal to count would erase Kew’s hat trick, and instead of being down two, the Rock would have tied it up again at 8.

After a review, crew chief Ian Garrison announced to the crowd, “As a result of inconclusive evidence, the Toronto no-goal ruling is upheld. The Georgia goal stands,” exciting the home crowd and stunning the Rock bench.

“All the replays showed that it was a good goal; they said it was inconclusive,” Sawyer said. “That’s something you hear a lot in this league, the inconclusive call, but pretty tough one to swallow, pretty conclusive to me and to us and I think to everyone watching the game.”

“The Woods one, I didn’t think we would get the call on that one,” Comeau said, “and that’s a two-goal swing, cause if that goal counts, Kew’s transition goal doesn’t count. It’s tough; we’re looking at a big screen or looking at an iPad. Refs are able to rewind, go back, get a little closer look. I trust their judgement on those things. It’s tough. At the end of the day, you have to use your challenge flag strategically, and you hope you’re right on them. I’ve thrown lots of flags where I thought I was 100 percent right, and it didn’t work out, and I’ve thrown flags on a lark, and we got a call on it.”

Watching the review on the giant screen in Gas South Arena and postgame, it most certainly seemed like the refs made the wrong call. But unfortunately for the Rock, it appears Woods’ left foot seemed to skim the carpet as he fell and was most likely the reason the call was ultimately determined to be inconclusive.

It was the second surprising review ruling of the game. Jackson looked to have the Swarm’s sixth goal of the game after netting a power play marker, but Sawyer challenged it. The refs were able to zoom in on the overhead camera and somehow determined Jackson’s right foot just barely toed the line, erasing his goal.

“Officials do a good job around the crease,” Comeau concluded. “It’s tough. There are so many variables they’re looking at, tough game to officiate around the crease. We’ll take the Woods no-goal call and be happy to get the one on the other end.”

Photo Credit: Georgia Swarm

The Looks Ahead

Considering the names on the Rock’s Injured Reserve list, their upcoming bye week is fortuitous. It gives them a chance to heal up and naturally reinforce their team with stars like Tom Schreiber, Latrell Harris, and Challen Rogers. After the bye, they have a rematch against the Ottawa Black Bears (1-1) on Saturday, Dec. 28. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. ET.

The Rock lost their season opener against the Black Bears 11-5. Ottawa is also on a bye week following a loss, giving both teams plenty of time to prepare for one another.

The Swarm have a rematch of their own in the immediate future, going to sunny San Diego to take on the San Diego Seals (2-1) on Saturday, Dec. 21. Face-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET. Georgia used overtime to down the Seals and being their win streak to start the season. The Seals bounced back following that loss by handing the Colorado Mammoth their first loss of the season on Friday night.

All games are available on ESPN+, the TSN app, or NLLplus.com.