Bridgeport Barrage Game Day Preview
July 11, 2002 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Philadelphia Barrage News Release
Barrage at a Glance: The Bridgeport Barrage will visit the Rochester Rattlers this Friday, July 12 after swallowing their third overtime loss this season last week to the New Jersey Pride, 17-16 OT. Bridgeport nearly pulled off a dramatic comeback after trailing by three goals with under one minute to play in regulation. The Barrage mounted a comeback on a goal by Brian Piccola on a pass from Dan Denihan with just 34 seconds left in the game. Keith Cromwell then scored his first two-point goal of his career to knot the score at 16-16 with ten seconds on the clock. Unfortunately for the Barrage, the extra session saw the team drop their third overtime game this season at home when New Jersey's David Curry completed a hat trick with his third goal of the game. For the Barrage, Keith Cromwell (5g), Jim Mormile (3g) and Brian Piccola (3g) all set personal highs in goals scored in the loss. Rattlers at a Glance: Rochester enters the showdown with the Barrage having lost last Friday to the Long Island Lizards 13-12 to drop their record to 2-3 on the season. The Rattlers have not won on their home field this season (0-2, 13-12 loss vs. Long Island and 17-13 loss vs. Baltimore). Rochester is led offensively by Ryan Powell (16g, 6a), John Fay (9g, 2a) and Matt Hahn (8g, 3a). In goal, Brian Dougherty has started all five games in goal, recording a .553 save percentage and a goals against average of just 12 goals per game. This season, Chris Cercy has won 66% (91-of-138) face-offs overall. Last year he won 65% (36-of-55) face-offs in the two games vs. the Barrage.
Last Time They Met: The Bridgeport Barrage dropped both games of the season series to the Rochester Rattlers last season. The Barrage hosted the Rattlers in their last meeting on 7/6/01. The Barrage lost that game 14-10 in part due to the offensive output from Ryan Powell (2g, 3a), D'Arcy Sweet (5g) and John Grant Jr. (2g, 2a, one-two-point goal) who each tallied five points in the game. Bridgeport's Keith Cromwell was the high goal-scorer for the Barrage with a hat trick (3g). The difference in the game also proved to be that Rochester outscored Bridgeport a combined 11-2 in the second and third quarters of play. Bridgeport visited Rochester on 6/23/01 for their first meeting. In that game Bridgeport trailed Rochester 10-9 at the half before eventually losing the contest 19-14. Ryan Powell lit up the Barrage for eight points (4g, 4a) while Bridgeport's Joe Brock (1g, 3a) and Roy Colsey (2g, 1a, one-two-point goal) led the Barrage effort with four points apieece. Bridgeport attackman Matt Panetta also had a hat trick in the game (3g). Both goalies, Jim Mule (22 saves) and Brian Dougherty (26 saves) were spectacular in the crease.
One-Goal Heart Break: After falling to New Jersey 17-16 in overtime on 7/6/02, the Barrage are now 1-8 all-time in games decided by a goal. Bridgeport has lost three games in overtime this season, dropping their all-time overtimerecord to 0-5. Rochester is 2-6 all-time on one-goal games.
2002 Barrage Results
Date Opponent Score Barrage Leading Scorer
Sun. June 2 @ Long Island L 8-21 Roy Colsey (3g, 1 two point shot)
Fri. June 7 @ New Jersey L 7-12 Matt Panetta (3g)
Fri. June 15 Boston L 18-19 OT Matt Panetta (6g, 1a)
Fri. June 21 Baltimore L 7-15 Roy Colsey (2g)
Sat. June 22 @ Baltimore W 15-12 Blake Miller (3g)
Fri. June 28 Long Island L 20-21 OT Dan Denihan (3g, 4a)
Sat. July 6 New Jersey L 16-17 OT Keith Cromwell (5g, 1 two-point shot)
Roster Moves: This week, the Bridgeport Barrage have activated Billy St. George (Syracuse, 2002) from the reserve squad and Andy Towers (Brown, 1993) from the injured reserve. In turn, Brian Piccola (Johns Hopkins, 1995) and Jim Mormile (Brown, 2002) have been placed on the reserve squad. Matt Striebel (Princeton, 2001) and defenseman Nick Polanco (Hofstra, 2002) remain on the reserve squad. Striebel and Polanco will be out of action until the conclusion of the Lacrosse World Championships that are being held in Perth, Australia from July 5-14. Striebel is on the active roster for the U.S. National team while Polanco is an alternate. Streibel has scored two goals to go along with an assist during the first four games for Team USA.
League Leaders: Keith Cromwell is tied for fifth in the MLL in points (22) and is tied for third in assists (12). Roy Colsey is currently tied for seventh in the MLL in goals (14), is tied for ninth in points (19), second in two-point shots (3) and tied for ninth in hat tricks (2). Matt Panetta is ninth in the MLL goals (13) and is tied for fourth in the league with three hat tricks. Dan Denihan is tied for fifth in the MLL in points (22), is second in assists (12) and is tied for ninth in hat tricks (2).
Beyond the Arc: The Bridgeport Barrage are second in the MLL in two point shots on a trio of goals scored by Roy Colsey. Keith Cromwell scored the other two-point goal, the first of his career, in Bridgeport's overtime loss to New Jersey last week. The Barrage trail only Boston who lead the league with eight two-point goals. Boston's Mike Regan leads the league with four goals beyond the arc. Bridgeport's Roy Colsey is the all-time MLL leader in two-point goals with eight scores beyond the arc.
In the Crease: Jim Mule has made 85 saves this season while surrendering 80 goals (52% save percentage). Mark Spruyt has made 35 saves while surrendering 30 goals (54% save percentage). Thus far, the opposition has a 61% save percentage against the Barrage (139 saves, 89 goals).
Face-offs: The Bridgeport Barrage have won 53% of their face-offs this season (118-for-222). Midfielder Andy Towers has won 33-of-56 face-offs. Defenseman Jamie Hanford has won 75-of-150 face-offs this season, including a season-high 24 in the Bridgeport overtime loss vs. Long Island on 6/28/02. Matt Alexander (10-for-16) took a season-high 15 face-offs in the Barrage overtime loss to New Jersey last week.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 11, 2002
- Bridgeport Barrage Game Day Preview - Philadelphia Barrage
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