Minnesota Swarm
(7-6 H 2-4 A 5-2)

vs
San Jose Stealth
(5-7 H 3-3 A 2-4)

April 9th, 2006, 5:00 pm CST
Xcel Energy Center
St. Paul, Minnesota

The Swarm wish ill health on the Stealth!!!!!

TV/Internet/Radio Coverage:

Live: B2 Networks: https://www.b2livetv.com/bp/nll.htm $6.00 per game
Live statistics at: www.pointstreak.com
Minnesota Swarm website: www.mnswarm.com
Minnesota Swarm message board: http://boards.mnswarm.com/forums/
National Lacrosse League website: www.nll.com
NLL message board: http://www.wingszone.com/nllmb/

Series

Overall: Swarm 1-0
Home Overall: N/A
Road Overall: Swarm 1-0
This Season: N/A
Home This Season: N/A
Road This Season: N.A

The Swarm played the Stealth in San Jose last season on January 22nd, 2005. The Swarm won 9-8 behind #1 Matt Disher who made 38 of 46 saves for the win.

East Division Standings (x- clinched playoff berth)

1. x-Buffalo Bandits 9-4 (2-1 v. Swarm) Swarm lose tiebreaker
2. MINNESOTA SWARM 7-6 (4-6 IN DIVISION)
3. Philadelphia Wings 7-6 (1-2 v. Swarm) Swarm win tiebreaker
4. Rochester Knighthawks 7-7 (2-0 v. Swarm) Swarm lose tiebreaker
5. Toronto Rock 7-7 (Series tied and over at 1-1)

West Division Standings (x-clinched playoff berth)

1. x-Colorado Mammoth 8-5
2. x-Calgary Roughnecks 8-5
3. x-Portland Lumberjax 8-5
4. Arizona Sting 6-7
5. San Jose Stealth 5-7
6. Edmonton Rush 1-14

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The Swarm are coming off a spectacular come from behind 10-9 victory over the Toronto Rock on Saturday, April 1st at the Xcel Energy Center. Down 9-2 with 9:11 left in the third quarter, the Swarm came back with eight unanswered goals to take the victory. #1 Matt Disher came in the third quarter and made 12 of 13 saves. #44 Ryan Ward led the Swarm in scoring with one goal and four assists. #10 Brock Boyle, #15 Spencer Martin and #17 Sean Pollock each scored two goals. #39 Mark Miyashita got the game-winning goal and scooped up fifteen loose balls.

The Stealth had a rough past weekend. On Friday, March 31st, they lost at home to the Buffalo Bandits 11-9. Then on Saturday, April 1st, they visited Calgary and lost to the Roughnecks 12-10. The Stealth have lost three straight, but maybe able to break that streak on Friday, April 7th at home against the Portland Lumberjax before they visit the Swarm in St. Paul. The Stealth will need a huge weekend to keep pace with the Arizona Sting for the last playoff spot in the West. Both of those two play each other in a home and home series in the last weekend of the regular season.

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The Stealth offense is the worst in the league but has some very good young and improving talent. #9 Jeff Zywicki (25g 17a) is in the running for rookie of the year and is the Stealth's leading scorer. #15 Luke Wiles (16g 22a), another rookie, was acquired at the trade deadline from Philadelphia to add to the young nucleus. Veteran scoring comes from #18 Derek Malawsky (17g 22a) who has played with seven of the Swarm in the summer with the Victoria Shamrocks. The Stealth have been known to turn the ball over quite a bit so expect at least three or four breakaway goals by Swarm players like #18 Andrew Biers (2g 8a). With a smaller Stealth lineup, #47 Travis Hill should get a chance to play with his speed and feistiness. The Swarm defense can't take the Stealth offense for granted especially after playing the night before. The Stealth were able to score thirteen goals earlier this season against Rochester compared to six and nine in two games by the Swarm.

The Swarm offense will have a tough go against the Stealth defense. Led by #22 Cam Woods (2g 5a), the Stealth defense has given up just over ten goals a game. #12 Jarett Park (5g 4a) and #24 Chad Thompson (5g 6a) are the future for the Stealth defensively. Both play well on defense and can score on the transition. The Swarm may shake it up on offense after playing the night before especially if they beat Rochester. We may see #73 Dean Hill given a chance to play on the left side in his first game especially with the injury to #11 Kelly Hall (16g 9a). With only three right-handers on the Swarm, #44 Ryan Ward (16g 42a), #22 Kasey Beirnes (17g 24a) and #17 Sean Pollock (14g 16a) will have to be real sharp and resilient. Don't be surprised to see Biers and/or #39 Mark Miyashita, come up from the defense to help out offensively on the right side.

The Stealth have one of the best in goal in #44 Anthony Cosmo (5-4 10.34 GAA .784 Save %). Cosmo was the starting the goaltender for the West in the All-Star Game and was the starting goaltender for the Victoria Shamrocks this past summer as they won the Mann Cup. The Swarm should counter with #93 Nick Patterson (5-2 10.81 GAA .784 Save %) who had a tough game against the Rock on April 1st but he is due for a great game like he had earlier in the year.

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Both the Swarm and Stealth are equally strong in defense. Cosmo will give the Swarm all it can handle. However, the Swarm offense has the advantage and wins 11-10.

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Swarm Righties

#44 Ryan Ward (Wardo)
#22 Kasey Beirnes
#17 Sean Pollock

Swarm Lefties

#19 Chad Culp (Dennis the Menace)
#11 Kelly Hall
#40 Jamie Taylor (Tails)
#15 Spencer Martin
#8 Rory McDade
#73 Dean Hill

Swarm Defense

#50 Ryan Cousins
#23 Jon Sullivan (Sully)
#10 Brock Boyle
#55 Michael Kilby (Meat)
#77 Riley Kemp
#12 Eric Pacey
#16 Noah Talbot
#18 Andrew Biers
#33 Shawn Summerfield
#47 Travis Hill
#28 Nolan Heavenor

Swarm Face Off

#39 Mark Miyashita (71 of 169, 42.0%)

Swarm Goalies

#93 Nick Patterson
#1 Matt Disher (Dish)

Swarm General Manager

Marty O'Neill

Swarm Head Coach

Adam Mueller

Swarm Assistant Head Coaches

Paul St. John
Derek Moffat

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Stealth Righties

#9 Jeff Zywicki
#15 Luke Wiles
#23 Gary Rosyski
#14 Ryan Boyle
#27 Kevin Fines
#6 Curtis Hodgson

Stealth Lefties

#18 Derek Malawsky
#29 Cam Sedgwick

Stealth Defense

#22 Cam Woods
#24 Chad Thompson
#55 Jim Moss
#12 Jarett Park
#25 Eric Martin
#88 Ian Hawksbee
#24 Kyle Neufeld
#20 Shaydon Santos
#3 Matt Alrich
#36 Tony Frick
#17 Ross Johnson

Stealth Face Off

#32 Darren Reisig (82 of 173, 47.4%)

Stealth Goalies

#44 Anthony Cosmo
#35 Brandon Miller
#48 Matt Vinc

Stealth General Manager

Johnny Mouradian

Stealth Head Coach

Walt Christianson

Stealth Assistant Head Coaches

Johnny Mouradian
Art Webster

Next weekend, the Swarm will play their last regular season game against the Portland Lumberjax at the Xcel Energy Center on Saturday April 16th, 2006 at 7:00pm CST.