Barrage Defeat Long Island, 15-13
Published on July 31, 2002 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Philadelphia Barrage News Release
(Bridgeport, Conn., July 31, 2002) â The Bridgeport Barrage, Connecticut's only professional lacrosse team and a charter member of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), won their second straight game 15-13 over the Long Island Lizards before 5,289 fans on Wednesday evening at Harbor Yard. The win marked the first time in team history that the Barrage have posted back-to-back victories.
After enduring a span of over two hours and forty-five minutes without a lead during three straight losses Bridgeport has reeled two straight wins where they never trailed en route to posting the two-game winning streak. With the win, Bridgeport snapped Long Island's seven game winning streak that included a perfect 5-0 record on the road.
Bud Light MVP Mark Spruyt set a new team record with 25 saves to improve to 3-1 on the season in goal for the Barrage. Spruyt has now been named the Bud Light MVP in all three Barrage victories this season. Roy Colsey (4g, 1a), the Sobe Iron Lizard Award winner, led the Barrage on offense by tying his career high with four goals in the game while completing his fourth hat trick of the season. Bridgeport's Dan Denihan, Jim Mormile, Matt Striebel and Matt Panetta each netted two goals to provide a balanced support cast to Colsey's four-goal effort.
Greg McCavera (3g) paced the Lizards scoring attack with his third hat trick of the season, which included the game's only two-point goal. Casey Powell (2g, 2a) and Kevin Finneran (2g, 1a) also added two goals apiece for the Lizards.
Long Island's Brian Carcaterra lost his first game of the season despite the 24 save performance. He dropped to 7-1 on the season in the net for the Lizards.
Colsey provided the Barrage with a commanding three-goal cushion with less than three minutes left in the game before Casey Powell closed out the scoring with his second goal of the game for the 15-13 final. Dan Denihan scored the eventual game-winning goal with just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Denihan's goal came after Kevin Finneran pulled the Lizards to within 13-12.
After the Barrage and Lizards exchanged goals to open the third quarter, Ken Garcia cut the Long Island deficit to just one goal, 10-9. Long Island would get no closer than a goal down the stretch to a Barrage team that handed the Lizards just their second loss of the season.
Long Island doubled up Bridgeport in the second quarter, outscoring the Barrage six goals to three. The Lizards received a boost from Greg McCavera who scored two straight goals, including a two-point shot. Kevin Finneran wrapped up the scoring for Long Island on a pass from A.J. Haugen with under two minutes to play to pull the Lizards to within 9-7 at the half.
Both teams traded goals in the opening minute of play, but the Barrage proceeded to go on a 5-0 run to take a 6-1 lead after the first quarter. Roy Colsey pumped in three goals in the opening quarter alone to pick up the hat trick early on while Mark Spruyt made seven saves to propel the Barrage to the early lead.
With the win, the Barrage improve to 3-9 on the season while Long Island falls to 8-2. The Bridgeport Barrage will resume play on Friday, August 9 at 7:30 p.m. they when play their final home game of the 2002 season against the Boston Cannons.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 31, 2002
- Barrage Defeat Long Island, 15-13 - Philadelphia Barrage
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