Chicago Loses To San Jose On Road Trip
February 9, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Chicago Shamrox News Release
HOFFMAN ESTATES, IL February 9, 2008 - The Chicago Shamrox (1-3) put up a immense fight tonight on the road against the San Jose Stealth (3-3), but came up short by 6 goals in their second loss on the road this season. Chicago remains 0-2 on the road this year.
The west coast game was a reunion for many players from both teams with many familiar faces on the Shamrox team, more so then the Stealth. San Jose is the current home of former Chicago Shamrox defender Zach Heffner while the Shamrox carry several former Stealth players including goalie Brandon Miller, transitional player Andrew Burkholder and forward Callum Crawford, who would help the Shamrox early in the game.
Chicago was strong out of the gate when the Shamrox scored two unanswered goals within the first two minutes of the game by Josh Wasson and Lindsay Plunkett. Things were extremely quiet in San Jose as fans nervously waited to see if their team would score against a Chicago offense that has been anything but terrific on the road. A diving goal by forward Callum Crawford, who was being defended by two San Jose defenders, had many fans at HP Pavilion wishing the Stealth didn't trade Crawford to the Shamrox during the off-season.
The game radically changed after Crawford's goal as Chicago was held scoreless for the rest of the first quarter. Unfortunately, San Jose did most of the scoring during the rest of the first half with San Jose racking up four goals during the first quarter alone, two of which were on the power play.
Going into the second half of the game, things were not looking that great for the Shamrox. The team was down 8-4 and San Jose started the action in the second half with a goal by Like Wiles that put the Stealth up by a sizeable 9-4 lead.
Led by Chris Panos, the Shamrox were productive in the third quarter scoring five goals, but the third quarter and the Shamrox offense was not enough to hold the Stealth off. The Stealth scored nine goals total in the second half.
Even though Chicago lost, the team and fans alike should keep their heads high. Chicago missed the playoffs last year by a tie-breaker, which could have been avoided if the team performed on the power play. Last year, the team ranked last overall in the league with a power play percentage of 37.4%.
Things have changed dramatically in one season. Chicago now ranks seventh in the league in power play percentage (38.9%), but remarkably ranks second in the league while at home (62.5%).
Chicago will return home next weekend when they host the New York Titans (1-4) at the Sears Centre Arena at 7pm on Saturday, February 16. New York is currently in last place in the Eastern Division right behind the unexpected Rochester Knighthawks. Next Saturday's game is themed ShamROX and Roll 50's, 60's and 70's.
Tickets are on sale for the remaining six home games of the 2008 season. Individual tickets can be purchased by calling the Sears Centre box office at 1-888-SEARS-TIX or by going online at www.searscentre.com. Group tickets, featuring discounts and benefits, can be purchased by calling the Shamrox front office at 1-877-SHAMROX.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from February 9, 2008
- Chicago Loses To San Jose On Road Trip - Chicago Shamrox
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