The Wake

Minnesota’s indoor lacrosse team, the Swarm, have looked for quality opportunities for the public to take notice of their achievements throughout their infancy. The team made the playoffs last year at 8-8 and lost their playoff game to the Buffalo Bandits by one goal. The games between the Bandits and Swarm have started to become a rivalry since the playoff loss the Swarm suffered last year.

On March 4, the Swarm played the Bandits at home, looking to exact some revenge. What transpired on the field, though, seemed a replay of the playoff game with the Swarm losing by one goal again. The Swarm dug themselves an early hole and faced a 6-3 deficit after the first period. They fought valiantly to get back in the game, outscoring the Bandits in the third period, but failed to find the equalizer in the fourth. Observers have noted the Swarm start slow in the first five minutes of periods and this game proved no different. Buffalo scored 6 of their 16 goals in the first five minutes of periods.

7,504 fans swarmed to the Xcel to get a taste of the lacrosse action and see what the sport had to offer. Fans were treated to a great game and atmosphere. A fight erupted early in the second period with the team trailing 4-8, energizing the crowd to get behind the team as they fought off the Buffalo assault. Minutes later Dan Teat scored for the Bandits and a cowbell over the PA system noted the goal. Then towards the end of the second period Brett Bucktooth sent a shot to the back of the net and the chorus of “Dueling Banjoes” poured over the sound system.

Before the game, General Manager Marty O’Neill spoke about the team not capitalizing on opportunities to gain more exposure.

“Last March we had a chance to take first place against Buffalo. The Wild weren’t going to make the playoffs and the Gophers had just lost in the NCAAs. The community needed something positive and we missed an opportunity. It’s like the tenth chance of making a first impression and there aren’t many chances left,” O’Neill said.

The Swarm is an up and coming team looking to insert itself among the premier teams in the league. Coming into the Buffalo tilt they were second in the league at 5-3. With the win the Bandits overtook second place with a record of 6-4.

Minnesota plays in the toughest division of the league. Most of the teams are east coast teams with an established lacrosse scene. Since 1998 only two Western division teams have won the championship, O’Neill said.

They have the youngest team in the league with an average age of around 25. Many of the players remain from the inaugural season and the experience has served as an important step in building team chemistry.

“The first two years the core of the team lived here in Minnesota,” said forward and rising star, Sean Pollock.

Playing in Minnesota has been a problem for the team as they miss out on regular practice, because most of the team flies in for the games on the weekend. O’Neill said that players on other teams all live in their market and are able to practice on a regular basis. Although they lack the ability to practice often, O’Neill says fitness hasn’t been a problem because the players have been working out on their own.

O’Neill has orchestrated magnificent roster moves since taking the helm in 2005. The Swarm did very well in the expansion draft and cut their chops in the first season. In the next year he made some trades for veteran players like forward Ryan Ward, an all-star player. Then this year O’Neill traded a little-used player for Portland leading scorer, Mike Hominuck. He also gave up draft picks to trade for defenseman Ryan Sharp, who O’Neill says is a superstar in the league.

Through O’Neill’s prowess and the solid base of young talent, the Swarm positioned themselves to make some noise this year and build upon their success last year. O’Neill credits the maturation of players. The players are no longer content with just being in the league they want to play hard and compete.

Minnesota looks like they’re ready to take the next step and make a deep run in the playoffs.

“We have to fight and claw to establish ourselves. Instead of being next in line, we have to prove our metal,” O’Neill said.