Barrage Game Day Preview
June 14, 2002 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Philadelphia Barrage News Release
BARRAGE AT A GLANCE: The Bridgeport Barrage will look to rebound off the 0-2 start by opening the 2002 seson at Harbor Yard vs. the Boston Cannons. Bridgeport has suffered two setbacks this season after opening with a 21-8 loss at Long Island a 12-7 defeat at New Jersey. The Barrage have not held a lead since the first quarter of the season opening game at Long Island (have not held a lead in the last seven quarters of play). After the first two games, midfielder Roy Colsey leads the team in points (4g, 1a) with Dan Denihan (3g, 1a) and Matt Panetta (3g, 1a) pacing the effort for the attack. Andy Towers leads the Barrage in ground balls (14) and face-offs won (24). Goalie Jim Mule was specatular in the loss to New Jersey, tying his MLL career high with 22 saves. Last season, the Barrage were held to a season-low ten goals on one occasion (17-10 L at NJ). This season after two games Bridgeport has failed to score ten goals in a game.
2001 SEASON SUMMARY: Last season, Boston took a tightly contested season series from the Barrage three games to one. The Cannons finished the season in a 3-11 tie with Bridgeport, but took the final playoff spot by winning the season series. Boston's only three wins of the season were against Bridgeport. Boston defeated Bridgeport 15-14 in overtime last August 25th in a must-win game for both teams that determined the final playoff berth from the American Division. In that game, Mike Battista ended Bridgeport's playoff hopes with the game-winning shot with just under three minutes to play. The Barrage defeated the Cannons 17-15 on August 19, 2001 to put pressure on Boston leading into the teams' final match-up.
ROSTER MOVES: The Bridgeport Barrage have activated Mike Adams (Notre Dame, 2001) and Todd Eicheleberger (Princeton, 1997) from the reserve squad for this week's game against the Boston Cannons. In turn, Jed Raymond (Middlebury, 2000) and Joe Brock (NYIT, 1998) have been moved to the reserve squad from the active roster. Pat McGinnis (Maryland, 2001) and Kevin Rooney (NY Tech, 2001) remain on the reserve squad. Scott Hochstadt (Maryland, 2000) and Brian Piccola (Johns Hopkins, 1995) remain on the injured reserve. With the exception of Nick Polanco (Hofstra, 2002), the Barrage have placed each of their MLL Collegiate Draft selections including, Nick Russo (Virginia, 2002), Marc Morley (UMass, 2002) and Devin Ryan (Notre Dame, 2002) on the collegiate inactive list.
FRUSTRATING 4TH : The Bridgeport Barrage have been outscored 9-1 in the fourth quarter this season.
NEW FACES: The Bridgeport Barrage have six players on the active roster who were not with the team last season. The Barrage acquired two MLL All-Stars in Andy Towers (Boston Cannons) and Dan Denihan (Baltimore Bayhawks) through a pair of off-season trades. Bridgeport also picked up Mark Spruyt (Hofstra, 1998) from the MLL Player Pool, Chris Rogler (Hofstra, 1999) from the 2002 MLL Supplemental Draft (7th round) and Todd Eichelberger (Princeton, 1997) through a trade with the Long Island Lizards. The Barrage have also added rookie defenseman Nick Polanco (Hofstra, 2002) from their first round selection (4th overall) in the 2002 MLL Collegiate Draft.
IN THE CREASE: Jim Mule has made 40 saves this season while surrendering 23 goals (63% save percentage) . Mule made 18 saves at Long Island in the 21-8 loss and tied his MLL career high with 22 saves in the 12-7 loss at New Jersey. Thus far, the opposition has a 72% save percentage against the Barrage (38 saves, 15 goals).
FACE-OFFS: The Bridgeport Barrage have won half of their faceoffs this season (25-for-50). Andy Towers has won 24-of--44 faceoffs through the first two games this season. Towers won 12-of-24 face-offs at Long Island and took 12-of-20 at New Jersey. Defenseman Jamie Hanford has won 1-of-6 faceoffs this season (2-of-4 at LI and 0-for-2 at NJ).
2002 BRIDGEPORT BARRAGE SEASON SUMMARY
JUNE 2, 2002 â LONG ISLAND 21, BRIDGEPORT 8
GAME SUMMARY: The Bridgeport Barrage lost their 2002 season opener to the Long Island Lizards, 21-8, before 2,850 fans at Hofstra Stadium on the campus of Hofstra University. The Barrage got on the scoreboard first, benefitting from an overhand two-point shot by Roy Colsey from the top of arc. Bridgeport surged to a 4-1 lead on another goal by Colsey and a fast-break score by Nick Polanco (Hofstra '02), who was the Barrage first round selection (4th overall) in Saturday's 2002 MLL Collegiate Draft. However, Long Island scored six unanswered goals, including two by Casey Powell, to take a 7-4 lead at the end of the first quarter. Bridgeport trimmed the deficit to 7-6 on a pair of goals by midfielder Matt Striebel and attackman Dan Denihan, but that was the closest Bridgeport would get after Long Island went on a 5-0 run to take a 12-6 lead heading into the locker room. In an unsettled situation leading to the final score before halftime, Bridgeport goalie Jim Mule found himself out of goal, allowing an empty net tally by Lizards midfielder Matt O'Kelly (assisted by Greg McCavera). Bridgeport opened the third quarter scoring as Denihan netted his second goal of the game within the first minute of play. Nonetheless, the Barrage were held scoreless for the next 10 minutes as the Lizards seized control of the game, en route to the 21-8 victory. Midfielder Roy Colsey had a hat trick for the Barrage, including the only two-point shot of the game. Casey Powell led all scorers with six points (5g, 1a) and was named Bud Light's Game Most Valuable Player. Jim Mule started in goal for the Barrage and made 15 saves, while Long Island's Larry Falkman was awarded with the SoBe Iron Lizard Award after making 13 saves of his own.
JUNE 7, 2002 â NEW JERSEY 12, BRIDGEPORT 7
GAME SUMMARY: The Bridgeport Barrage dropped to 0-2 on the season after falling to the New Jersey Pride 12-7, before 2,615 fans at Commerce Bank Ballpark. In the fourth quarter New Jersey jumped all over the Barrage scoring three goals in a span of three minutes to take a commanding 10-6 lead. That was all the scoring support they needed to outscore the Barrage 5-1 in the fourth quarter en route to handing Bridgeport their second defeat in six days. Jesse Hubbard led New Jersey with two goals in the final quarter and in turn led the Pride with his first hat trick of the season. A tightly contested third quarter had one tie and two lead changes as the Pride held onto a one-goal lead on scores by Scott Urick and Jay Jalbert. Matt Panetta netted his third goal of the game in the quarter for his first hat trick of the season. Panetta's goal tied the game at 6-6, but the Barrage would never get any closer in a game that they tied twice, but never held a lead. The Pride opened up a 5-1 lead in the first four minutes of the second quarter on goals by David Curry (New Canaan, CT) and Jesse Hubbard. However, Bridgeport scored four unanswered goals to close out the first half to knot up the score at 5-5. Roy Colsey and Matt Panetta scored in a span of 33 seconds to get the Barrage back into the game. Panetta scored his second straight goal and rookie defenseman Nick Polanco tied the game only 11 seconds later on a pass from Andy Towers (New Canaan, CT). New Jersey seized a 3-0 first quarter lead on goals by Jay Jalbert, Jon Hess and Chris Massey. Jalbert had New Jersy's first goal just 25 seconds into the game on the team's first shot. Bridgeport got on the scoreboard with just ten seconds remaining in the first quarter on a shot by Brian Langtry to cut the Pride's lead to 3-1. Bud Light MVP Steve Koudelka was stellar in goal for the Pride, making 24 saves. Jime Mule made 22 saves in goal for the Barrage, including seven saves in the second quarter of play. Bridgeport's Andy Towers was named the SOBE Iron Lizard Award winner after recording one assist to go along with nine ground balls and 12 face-offs won.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 14, 2002
- Barrage Game Day Preview - Philadelphia Barrage
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