The Minnesota Swarm continued a successful 2012 National Lacrosse League season, sweeping their season series against the Philadelphia Wings with a 15-10 victory at Treasure Island Field.
The biggest crowd of the year, 9,357 fans, cheered the team on for "The Hive Cares" Night in St. Paul. The team wore commemorative black jerseys as part of the NLL's campaign to "Black Out" cancer. They also wore patches with the #16 on them in honor of their teammate, Joe Wasson, who was recently diagnosed with the disease. Proceeds of Saturday night's events benefitted the Randy Shaver Cancer Research and Community Fund.
Kevin Ross led the Swarm in scoring with nine points (five goals, four assists). Callum Crawford, the Swarm's leading scorer, also chipped in nine points, with those coming on one goal and a career-high eight assists. The Swarm's leading goal scorer, Ryan Benesch, found the back of the net four times as well.
Goalie Evan Kirk rebounded from a tough first quarter to get the complete game victory. Kirk allowed five goals to the Wings in the first stanza, but only five total goals in the three periods that followed, including holding the Wings scoreless in the third period of play. The Swarm trailed 5-4 after the first quarter of play, and came back to grab an 8-7 lead at halftime, but Kirk's outstanding third quarter enabled the Swarm to open up a 13-7 lead going into the fourth period.
The Swarm's victory over the Wings gave them their first sweep of any opponent this year, and gave them a 4-2 record against the Eastern Division, the first time they've had a winning mark against the East since moving to the Western Division in 2009.
Minnesota will finish the 2012 regular season at Treasure Island Field on Saturday, April 28 at 6:30 PM when they host the Colorado Mammoth. The game will be aired live on the CBS Sports Network, so you can check the team out on television if you can't make it to St. Paul to see the game.