Now that the National Lacrosse League (NLL) playoffs are just weeks away, the East Division-leading Minnesota Swarm can clinch a post-season spot with a win over the Rochester Knighthawks at Xcel Energy Center on Saturday (April 19) at 7:00 p.m. Minnesota can also clinch the East Division Saturday with a win and a Philadelphia loss to New York and a Buffalo loss to Chicago.
With a 6-0 home record, the Swarm (9-4 overall) has reached the midway point of a four-game homestand that began on April 5 with a 12-9 win vs. the New York Titans and continued last Saturday with a thrilling 15-14 overtime victory against the Philadelphia Wings. The homestand ends April 25 against the Chicago Shamrox. During the six-game string of victories in Saint Paul, Minnesota is outscoring its opponents 81 to 58. The Swarm has one road game left on its regular-season schedule (April 26 at Chicago). First-round divisional playoff action is set to take place the weekend of May 2-4. Minnesota, which made its NLL debut in 2005, has qualified for the playoffs the last two seasons.
F Andy Secore tops the Swarm in total points with 65 (24-41=65) in 11 games. F Ryan Ward, the Swarm's leading goal scorer with 28, is right behind Secore with 62 points in 13 outings. Meanwhile, G Nick Patterson has the most wins in the league (9).
Rochester (7-7), the defending NLL champions, is 3-3 on the road this season and 3-6 all-time vs. Minnesota (2-2 at Xcel Energy Center). F John Grant leads the Knighthawks with 86 points (43-43=86) in 14 games.
When the two teams last faced off on Jan. 26 at Blue Cross Arena in New York, Swarm F Sean Pollock notched a career-high tying nine points (3-6=9), including the sudden death OTGW, to help edge Rochester 18-17. Pollock even tied the match at 17-17 with 5:20 left in regulation. Rookie F Craig Point and D Ryan Cousins also had three goals on the night for the Swarm. Minnesota chased Knighthawks G Pat O'Toole from the game after scoring 12 goals against him in 25:49 while Grant, the NLL's No. 2 scorer, had eight points (3-5=8) in defeat.
Great lower level seats can be purchased for each upcoming Swarm home game. Tickets range from $12 - $52 and can be purchased in advance or at the Xcel Energy Center Box Office. Family packs and student discounts are also available. Contact Ticketmaster at 651-989-5151 or
Tickets for Concerts, Sports, Arts, Theater, Family, Events, more. Official Ticketmaster site to get the best seats available. For more information on Swarm season tickets call 888-MNSWARM or
info@mnswarm.com.