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MLL Results from Saturday's Season Openers Boston Cannons Edge Long Island Lizards in Opener Story from Boston: The Boston Cannons of Major League Lacrosse beat the Long Island Lizards 17-16 in their season opener, in front of a Cannons record 6,312 at Boston University’s Nickerson Field. The Cannons earned the win on the strength of Tim Byrnes’ game winning, behind the back – no look goal with just eight seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cannons trailed 13 – 10 heading into the fourth quarter. Boston took its first lead of the game on a Steve Dusseau goal with 1:42 remaining. Long Island’s Jay Jalbert, the 2003 MLL MVP tied it for the Lizards with 32 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Boston took possession on a Peter Inge face off win and with eight seconds remaining Chris Rotelli found Byrnes for his Picasso-esque game winner. It was Byrnes’ only goal of the game. “Going to Syracuse I’ve seen the Powells taking those shots (Casey and Ryan),” said Byrnes. “I’ve seen guys like (Cannons Midfielder Kevin) Leveille do it in practice. I guess it was the right time for me to bring that shot out. The bottom line is that we won the game and sent this great crowd home happy” The Cannons outscored the Lizards 6-3 in the fourth quarter to earn the win. Midfielder Kevin Leveille scored two goals in the game’s final quarter to power the Cannons. “We were working hard,” said Leveille. “We try to be the best conditioned team in the league and I think it showed in the fourth quarter. We were there both mentally and physically.” Conor Gill and David Evans led the way for the Cannons with five points apiece. Evans earned his points on the strength of 3 goals, one of which was a momentum change two-pointer with 7:32 left in the third quarter, to go along with an assist. Gill recorded a goal and four assists. Chris Rotelli was strong in his Cannons debut assisting on three goals including Byrnes’ game winner. Michael Watson had 3 goals and Mike Battista notched two. “It was a great way to christen our new stadium,” said Battista. “To come to Boston and get a win like that in front of a huge crowd, it’s a great feeling. I think all of the fans tonight will definitely come back.” The Cannons opened the season at a new venue, but the result was the same. All four Cannons season openers in the franchise’s brief history have been decided by one goal. Boston improves to 3 and 1 in season openers and 2 and 1 in home openers. Not be lost in the midst of pretty game winning goals and gaudy offensive numbers is the work of faceoff guy Peter Inge. Going against the MLL’s top faceoff guy, Chris Cercy, Inge simply won 28 of 34 faceoffs, an 82% clip. For good measure he also picked 11 ground balls. “I’ve worked hard all offseason to get in shape,” said Inge. “Now that I have a year of MLL experience under my belt of feel a lot more confident. It was a great way to start the season.” Long Island was led offensively by Jalbert who scored 4 goals. Andrew Wasik, Conor Denihan and Tim Goettlemann all notched two points apiece. Brian Dougherty had a huge game between the pipes with 23 saves. The Cannons started the game flat, despite trailing only 3-2 after one. Boston had difficulties in the second quarter. They were outscored 5-2 and trailed 8 – 4 at the half. Boston trailed by as many as 5 goals (10-5 with 10:23 left in the third) before mounting a comeback. “It was a great win, but we we didn’t play our best game,” said Hiller. “We’re happy to get the win, but just like last season’s opener, it was exciting, but we now we can do more.” The Cannons made it 10-8 after an Evans two-pointer with 7:32 remaining in the third quarter, which was followed by a Battista tally that cut the lead to one with 1:27 to go in the third. The next Cannons game is Thursday May 27 against the Bayhawks in Baltimore. The game begins at 7:30, coverage on the Boston Cannons Web Radio Network starts at 7:15. Story from Long Island: The Long Island Lizards were in full control of their season opener, leading the Boston Cannons, 8-4 at halftime on Saturday evening. With the Lizards defense clicking, and Brian Dougherty playing amazing in goal, it seemed the Lizards would spoil the Cannons first game in their new stadium, in front of a franchise record crowd of 6,312 fans at Nickerson Field. However, the Cannons offense scored 13 goals in the second half, including four in a row in the fourth quarter, to upset the Lizards. Jay Jalbert scored his fourth goal of the evening to tie the game at 16 apiece, but Tim Byrnes scored the game-winner on the ensuing possession, with a behind-the-back bounce shot with eight seconds remaining. The Lizards were led offensively by Jay Jalbert (4G), A.J. Haugen (3G) and Kevin Finneran (2G, 2A). Brian Dougherty recorded 23 saves in goal for Long Island. Boston was led by David Evans (3G, 1 two-point, 1A), and Michael Watson (3G). Chris Garrity recorded 11 saves in goal, and Peter Inge won 28 of 34 faceoffs for the Cannons. Jay Jalbert started the scoring 24 seconds in, scoring on the first shot of the game to give Long Island the 1-0 lead. Kevin Leveille answered back fot the Cannons, muscling his way through the Lizards defense to tie the game at one goal apiece. Andrew Wasik scored his first career goal, but Michael Watson tied the game up at 2-2 with a bounce shot that beat Dougherty. Mike Hammer joined Wasik with his first career goal, an impressive shot diving through the crease to give Long Island a 3-2 lead after one quarter. Jalbert opened the second quarter with his second goal, but Watson answered back to make the score 4-3. Long Island scored three straight goals, from Conor Denihan, A.J. Haugen, and Chris Massey, to extend the lead to 7-3. David Evans scored a power-play marker to cut the score to 7-4, but Kevin Lowe closed the half with an amazing spin play to beat his defender, scoring with 19 seconds remaining in the half and giving the Lizards an 8-4 lead heading into the locker room. David Evans powered the ball past Dougherty to open the second half, but Haugen stole the momentum with two goals in 22 seconds to give the Lizards their largest lead of the game, at 10-5. However, the Cannons mounted a run. Watson a power-play goal, Evans added a rocket from two-point range, and Mike Battista finished the scoring to cut the score to 10-9. Conor Denihan, Jay Jalbert and Kevin Finneran scored to put the Lizards up 13-9, but Boston wouldn't go away, as Michael Watson cut the score to 13-10 heading into the final quarter. Kevin Finneran scored to open the fourth quarter, putting Long Island up 14-10, but Mike Battista scored from two-point range to start the comeback. Kevin Leveille and Chris Fiore scored back-to-back goals 13 seconds apart to tie the game, and Leveille put the Cannons put 15-14, their first lead of the game, with 6:12 remaining. Goettelmann tied the game with five minutes left, but Steve Dusseau caught a pass from Conor Gill to put Boston up 16-15. Jalbert tied the game with 32 seconds left, and Inge defeated Cercy on the following faceoff to setup Byrnes' heroics. The Lizards (0-1) meet Jesse Hubbard and the New Jersey Pride (1-0) in their home-opener on Thursday night, at Mitchel Athletic Complex (7:30 PM). Individual game and season tickets are now on sale. For more information, call 1-866-LIZARD-1 or visit longislandlizards.com * * * * * * * * * * New Jersey Grabs Opener, Ruins Barrage's Philadelphia Debut Story from New Jersey: VILLANOVA, PA - When Adam Doneger landed himself in New Jersey earlier this month as a part of a blockbuster preseason trade, he was all-smiles when he got to put on his first Pride jersey. The feeling taking it off after his first game probably wasn't too bad, either. The former Rochester Rattler scored five goals in his Pride debut, rocking the nets at Villanova Stadium, winning the Bud Light game MVP award and spoiling the Pennsylvania debut for the Barrage in a 17-13 Pride win. "I wanted to play in New Jersey," said Doneger, the 2003 MLL Cascade Rookie of the Year for the Rattlers. "Coming here was so awesome for me, and I am just happy that I can play well and help this team succeed." Doneger's size from the top of the two-point arc gave the Barrage fits all evening, and as Philadelphia tried to push him to his left, he simply went that way and used his left hand to score. "To be able to play this game, from the time you are little, people are teaching you to use both hands," Doneger said. "It's just how you play the game, and now it's second nature." After Doneger came the usual assault from captain and Princeton graduate Jesse Hubbard, Major League Lacrosse's All-time leading goal scorer. Hubbard found twine five times himiself, including a booming shot from 17-yards out for the Pride's first 2-point tally of 2004, which came late in the first half. The loss was extra disappointing for the fans of Philadelphia, since this was the Barrage's first game in the City of Brotherly Love after a move from Bridgeport, Connecticut. The closest the game ever was, was when the score was tied at two. The Pride then pulled away for a 4-3 first-quarter advantage, and eventually a 12-6 halftime lead. A pair of Pride newcomers had their first goals in a New Jersey uniform. Midfielder Adam Doneger struck first with 2:30 to play in the first quarter, which gave the Pride an early, 3-2, lead. Doneger found twine again with 8:44 to go in the second quarter, firing an over-handed, left-handed laser to give New Jersey a 9-4 lead and forcing a Barrage timeout. Nick Schmidt, another Pride rookie who played for Rutgers University in 2003, also made a stunning debut scoring a goal in his first pro game as he worked his way through the Barrage zone, past Kinte Moon and then past goalie Greg Cattrano in the first half. The Pride controlled the first half of play (which ended 12-6 NJ), converting a host of 1-on-1 opportunities, and a man-up that Princeton graduate Jesse Hubbard finished from outside the two-point arc for the first NJ 2-pointer of the season. Story from Philadephia: Villanova, Pa -- The Philadelphia Barrage hosted the New Jersey Pride in their home opener at Villanova Stadium in front of 2,381 fans. The game marked the first time the Barrage have played in the state of Pennsylvania after the team moved from Bridgeport, Connecticut this spring. The Barrage fell to the Pride 17-13. Blake Miller led the Barrage with 4 goals, while Liam Banks led the game in assists with six on the night. Philadelphia's newest goalie Greg Cattrano, had a remarkable night in the cage with 11 saves. At the end of the first quarter The Pride was up 4-3. New Jersey's Jesse Hubbard had the first goal of the night 4:37 into the quarter, assisted by Dan Chemotti. Matt Striebel turned a ground ball into a goal at 8:19. B.J. Prager and Keith Cromwell netted their first goals of the season towards the end of the first quarter. Blake Miller owned the second quarter for the Barrage with all three goals of the quarter. Liam Banks, new to the MLL, was able to put his name on the score sheet with two assists. New Jersey's new trade Adam Doneger had an outstanding first half with a hat trick, while Jesse Hubbard tallied 5 points at the end of the first half. Keith Cromwell started out the third quarter strong with a goal at 1:06 with another assist from Liam Banks. Doneger struck again 3:17 into the first quarter, giving the Pride a 13-8 lead. Roy Colsey quickly retaliated with a goal at 11:21. With 1:54 remaining in the third quarter Adam Doneger found the back of the net again, making the score 15-9, New Jersey at the end of the third quarter. 26 seconds into the fourth quarter Michael Springer fired a laser past New Jersey's Trevor Tierney, but Philadelphia's effort was not strong enough to defeat the New Jersey Pride. Adam Doneger of the Pride led the game in scoring with 4 goals and one 2 point goal, totaling 5 points for the game, and was also named the Bud Light MVP of the game. New Jersey's Jesse Hubbard also scored 4 goals for the night. The Barrage will next play at Rochester on May 27th at 7:30 p.m. Score by Period 1 2 3 4 Tot ------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 4 8 3 2 - 17 Philadelphia Barrage 3 3 3 4 - 13 Attendance: 2,381 New Jersey Pride SCORING: GOALS: Adam Doneger 5; Jesse Hubbard 4; Scott Dooley 2; Austin Garrison 1; Dave Curry 1; Scott Urick 1; Rob Torti 1; Nick Schmidt 1. ASSISTS: Dan Chemotti 1; Adam Doneger 1. Philadelphia Barrage SCORING: GOALS: Blake Miller 4; Keith Cromwell 3; Roy Colsey 2; Matt Striebel 2; Michael Springer 1; BJ Prager 1. ASSISTS: Liam Banks 6; Blake Miller 1. SHOTS BY PERIOD 1 2 3 4 Tot ------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 15 13 18 9 - 55 Philadelphia Barrage 8 17 8 20 - 53 GROUND BALLS BY PRD 1 2 3 4 Tot ------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 6 11 7 10 - 34 Philadelphia Barrage 7 6 10 13 - 36 FACE-OFFS BY PRD 1 2 3 4 Total ---------------------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 3-7 6-11 3-7 3-7 - 15-32 Philadelphia Barrage 4-7 5-11 4-7 4-7 - 17-32 CLEARS BY PERIOD 1 2 3 4 Total ---------------------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 5-5 4-4 5-5 8-8 - 22-22 Philadelphia Barrage 6-6 6-6 7-7 9-9 - 28-28 EXTRA-MAN OPPS 1 2 3 4 Total ---------------------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 0-0 0-2 0-2 0-0 - 0-4 Philadelphia Barrage 1-1 0-1 0-1 0-1 - 1-4 SAVES BY PERIOD 1 2 3 4 Tot ------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 2 5 3 8 - 18 Philadelphia Barrage 4 2 3 2 - 11 TURNOVERS BY PRD 1 2 3 4 Tot ------------------------------------- New Jersey Pride.... 6 3 5 5 - 19 Philadelphia Barrage 5 3 3 3 - 14 PENALTIES - NJ 4/3:00; PHI 4/3:00. * * * * * * * * * * A release for the Baltimore-Rochester game has not yet been received, but Mark Millon scored 4 goals to lead the Bayhawks over the Rattlers 24-18 in their opener, played in Seattle. See the MLL web site for details. |