Cotter & Boston Blaze Past Swarm

Coming off a two game losing streak, the Blazers were looking for a much-needed spark heading into the playoff push. That spark, they found in forward Nick Cotter who added 4 goals and 2 assists. With a record crowd for the Blazers of 10,000 at the TD Garden, the Boston Blazers put on quite a show for the home crowd.

“If we play Blazer’s lacrosse, we should win,” affirmed Nick Cotter after the game. Blazers lacrosse is exactly what Boston displayed against the Minnesota Swarm.

Right off the opening faceoff, the Blazers struck early. Daryl Veltman scored on the Blazers first shot of the game coming from an assist from Mat Giles only 42 seconds into the game. With this goal, Boston set the tone early, took the lead, and never looked back.

After Minnesota answered to make the game 1-1, Mat Giles added a power play goal, followed by an amazing diving goal by captain and 2009 league MVP Dan Dawson to end the 1st quarter at 3-1.

As the Blazer’s forwards continued their offensive success with an early 2nd quarter goal, the defense established a strong presence lead by goalie Anthony Cosmo.

Cosmo shut the door on Minnesota’s Callum Crawford’s penalty shot as a result of Gary Bining’s slashing penalty. Also, Cosmo stood tall in net saving 26 out of 30 Minnesota Swarm scoring opportunities through the second quarter.

With just over 2 minutes left remaining in the 1st half, Boston gained a swing of momentum heading into the locker room. When Jamie Rooney’s acrobatic goal was called back for a crease violation, head coach Tom Ryan challenged the call with no hesitation. Ryan made the right call as instant replay reversed the call and gave the Blazers a two goal lead.

16 seconds later, the Blazers capitalized on a crucial Minnesota mistake. Blazer transition Ryan Hotaling intercepted a pass from Minnesota goalie Nick Patterson as he left an open net. Hotaling took advantage of the mistake scoring the empty net goal increasing the lead to 7-4 as the team headed into the half.

As the third quarter progressed the Blazers continued their offensive and defensive success. However, Minnestoa began to cut away at Boston’s lead. Minnesota’s Aaron Wilson added two goals to make a 3 goal 9-6 Boston lead.

Heading into the 4th quarter, the Blazers hoped to cruise to an easy victory, Minnesota however had other plans. Minnesota came out strong and swarmed the Blazers defense adding two goals to cut the lead to one at 9-8 with just under 13 minutes left in regulation.

Boston struggled in the first 6 minutes of the 4th quater as they went scoreless and couldn’t catch a break on offense as they rang a shot off the crossbar. With just over 10 minutes remaining the struggle continued when Greg Downing was hit with a slashing penalty giving Minnesota the powerplay.

Shorthanded, Nick Cotter stepped up for the struggling Blazers. Cotter who was a late addition to tonight’s roster was not sure if he was going to make it to Boston after his 8 hour New York state teaching exam in Long Island, not to mention he played through an ankle sprain.

Cotter’s snipe from just inside the white line found the twine past Swarm goalie Nick Patterson. Cotter’s goal gave the Blazers a two-goal lead, and opened the door for a fury of Blazers offense.

“He’s [Cotter] tough and gritty,” described team captain Dan Dawson. “Guys thrive off him when he scores.”

Cotter was not finished. Cotter added another goal after a crease violation was reversed thanks to another successful challenge by head coach Tom Ryan. A few minutes later, Cotter found the back of the net on a breakaway to score his fourth goal of the night and increase the lead to 12-8.

Ryan Hotaling’s goal with 56 seconds left was the icing on the cake to a hard fought Blazer win. Hotaling broke past a Minnesota defender, cut across the middle, and “wowed” the crowd with a spectacular behind the back goal that found the top left corner of the net.

Boston’s 13-8 victory over Minnesota will hopefully provide the spark and momentum, they will need as they push towards the playoffs. The win improves the Blazer’s record to 7-7 and keeps them in third place in the East division.

“We have great momentum,” concluded Cotter. “Come Monday we’ll have to start focusing on Colorado.”

John McBride attends Shrewsbury High School

The Blazers Beat is a student reporter program which provides high school students access to the Garden on game nights. Students will receive a media credential for a game of their choice, access to the post-game player and coach press conference and can write a game recap which the Blazers will help to publish with their local papers. For more information, contact Krista Olson, Marketing & Event Operations Manager at krista@blazerslacrosse.com.