Josh Byrne earned his second sock trick of the season, scoring six goals to lead the Buffalo Bandits over the Georgia Swarm on Saturday at KeyBank Center. The 11-9 victory gave the Bandits a win over the Swarm in back-to-back weeks and extended their win streak to four games.
Along with Byrne (6+3), the Bandits receive multi-point nights from Dhane Smith (1+5) and Kyle Buchanan (2+2). Georgia was led by Lyle Thompson who scored six of the Swarm’s nine goals.
Buffalo and Georgia each finished the game with 56 shots on goal. Bandits goaltender Matt Vinc made 47 saves, while Swarm netminder Brett Dobson stopped 45 shots.
The Bandits are now 4-1 this year and sit in second place in the East.
“I thought we adjusted both offensively and defensively. We’ve got three new guys, and it takes time to develop chemistry,” head coach John Tavares said.
The Bandits cushioned themselves with an early 3-0 lead with goals from Smith, Buchanan and Byrne. Thompson responded shortly after, notching the Swarm’s first of the game.
With 4:00 remaining in the first, a fight ensued between Bandits forward Brad McCulley and Georgia defender Adam Wiedemann, where McCulley knocked Wiedemann to the ground with a clean strike, firing up Banditland.
With an ignited home crowd behind them, Byrne notched his second of the game with 3:08 remaining in the quarter, followed by an answer from Brendan Bomberry with just under two minutes to go.
The Bandits held a 4-2 lead at the end of one, holding the advantage in shots on goal with 16 to Georgia’s 12. Thompson and Bandits captain Steve Priolo opened the second half scoring for the Swarm and Bandits, respectively.
Byrne’s hat trick tally was one for the highlight reel, as he snuck the ball past Georgia goaltender Brett Dobson with a behind the back shot.
Josh Byrne is a cheat code. 😲#LetsGoBandits pic.twitter.com/QVuoyY8JR9
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) January 15, 2023
Georgia would go on a 3-0 scoring run to end the half, tying the game at six with contributions from Ryan MacSpadyen, Thompson, and Adam Wiedemann, with Wiedemann adding his with just 1:05 left. The game was even in every regard, with the Bandits and Swarm tied in both score and shots on goal at 6 and 30.
Bandits forward Tehoka Nanticoke finished an impactful check and steal with 30 seconds left, leading to a great Bandits scoring chance before the half, but the team was unable to put one away prior to the buzzer sounding.
The third quarter of play started with a continuation of Georgia’s run, with Bomberry adding his 2nd of the game at the 14:24 mark. The Swarm’s momentum was finally halted by a snipe from Byrne for his fourth of the game.
Thompson and Byrne traded goals to even the score at 8. With just 20.8 seconds remaining in the third, Josh Byrne completed his second sock trick of the year with another highlight worthy goal, jumping over the crease to deliver an incredible tally.
You've got to be kidding me, @Joshbyrne94! 🥵 pic.twitter.com/TUlb5wDhnE
— Buffalo Bandits (@NLLBandits) January 15, 2023
“Their defense changed a couple things up, they made some adjustments and that’s a part of the game. We just had to adjust as well and continue to play the game,” Byrne, who at game’s end led the NLL with 20 goals, said.
The fourth was a quiet quarter, highlighted by goals from Buchanan and Georgia’s Bryan Cole throughout. Buchanan’s second goal of the game would end up being the game winner. With just 1:20 remaining, Bandits transition player Ian MacKay iced the game, leading to the Bandits 11-9 victory.
The Bandits will look to stretch their win streak to five next week when they kick off a stretch of three-straight road games with a game in Rochester. The Knighthawks are currently undefeated, which should set up a great match between two clubs at the top of the Eastern Conference standings.
Faceoff from Blue Cross Arena is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
“They’re undefeated, they’re 4-0. They’re finding ways to win and they’re confident. When you’re confident you play your best lacrosse,” Tavares said.