Cotter, Blazers Cruise By Swarm
What started as an easy opener for the Blazers quickly turned into a questionable win by the third quarter. The atmosphere of the Garden was energetic, as they hit a record high of 10,000 people. The Blazers, with a 7-7 record were favored to win over the 5-9 Swarm. Both teams were competing for the playoffs and came into the game strong and confident, but only one left victorious.
First quarter started with the Swarm winning the draw and Campeau running in to shoot a goal in order to put his team on the board. However, starting goalie Anthony Cosmo of the Boston Blazers was able to make the save and recover the ball to allow Blazers Captain Dan Dawson to assist Veltman in scoring his 20th goal of the season. As the first quarter ended, the Blazers were able to score two more goals by Mat Giles and Dan Dawson, while the Swarm trailed by only one. The morale was high for Boston as they entered the 2nd quarter with a 3-2 lead.
The second quarter started off like the first with Minnesota winning the draw and Boston recovering the ball and going in for another goal by Mat Giles making the score 4-2 Blazers. As Minnesota fought to get back on top, they suffered an illegal body check penalty followed by a penalty on the Blazers for having too many men on the field. After a call on the Blazers, Swarm was rewarded with a penalty shot taken by number 98 Callum Crawford, but once again the solid goaltending of Anthony Cosmo bricked it up. As the first half ended the Blazers were able to come on top by 7-4, with goals by Mat Giles, Jamie Rooney, and Ryan Hotaling.
The third quarter quickly went by as the Blazers got back to back goals all by Nick Cotter, followed by the determined Minnesota Swarm scoring two goals, leaving the third quarter with a score of 9-6 Blazers.
The final quarter got off to a bad start for the Blazers with Minnesota gaining draw possession and that leading to a Minnesota goal by number 17 Sean Pollock. About three minutes later Minnesota again lit the lamp on Anthony Cosmo making the score 9-8. Only a couple minutes later the Blazers were able to get it together by number 37 Nick Cotter scoring and assisted by number 16 Daryl Veltman to make it 10-8. With 4:40 showing on the clock Minnesota’s number 4 Joe Cinoski was called for illegal substitution causing the Blazers to have a power play. This power play then led to a goal by number 37 Nick Cotter again which happened to be called back but with Head Coach challenging the play the goal was re considered and then called a goal. “I did my job” said Coach Tom Ryan. The Blazers kept up the heat and scored again with 1:28 on the clock. Ending the 4th quarter was a highlight goal scored by number 20 Ryan Hotaling unassisted. He battled through many Swarm defensemen, firing a behind the back bouncer right past the Swarms goalie. As the buzzer sounded, the Boston Blazers walked away with a 13-8 victory.
Highlights included Nick Cotter’s four goal game with 3 solid goals in the third quarter. Anthony Cosmo, Player of the game for his consistent play throughout the entire game. Ryan Hotaling had two fantastic crowd pleaser goals both unassisted. The first scored in the second quarter, intercepting a pass from the Minnesota goalie to walk in alone and burry it. The second, to end the scoring for the Blazers was also a large crowd pleaser. Dan Dawson also had a couple great goals. “Before we talk playoffs we have to get there, our total focus is now on Colorado,” said Dawson. Nick Cotter goes on to say “We’re in a dog fight.” The Blazers now move on with their sole focus now on Colorado. They will face off on Friday April 16th at 9 pm in Colorado.
Vanessa Maines is a Senior at Acton-Boxborough Regional 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.