Dragons Face Revitalized Chicago Squad
June 7, 2007 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
San Francisco Dragons News Release
San Francisco, CA - The San Francisco Dragons travel to Chicago, Illinois this Sunday to face a Chicago team fresh off the first win in franchise history. While the Dragons (0-2) are coming off a season opening loss at Denver and another defeat at the hands of the visiting Long Island Lizards, the Machine (1-1) evened their early season record with a 19-17 home victory over the defending Western Conference champion Denver Outlaws, breaking a 13 game losing streak which extends all the way to the beginning of last year's inaugural campaign, in which they were 0-12.
Last year, the Dragons secured both a playoff spot and cemented the Machine's winless season with a tremendous 6 goal, 4th quarter comeback. With the last second withdrawal of many Duke players from this year's Major League Lacrosse collegiate draft, including consensus number one pick Matt Danowski, the Machine shocked the lacrosse world by drafting Penn State midfielder Pat Heim with first pick of the draft. Heim worked towards silencing the doubters with a 4 goal performance in Chicago's victory, which earned him the first ever MLL Cascade Rookie of the Week honors.
The Dragons have settled into a revamped 23 man active roster after the flurry of activity surrounding last week's draft. Second round pick and Colgate product Colin Hulme acquitted himself nicely as the Dragons' defense helped bolster a second half charge against the Lizards, in which the Dragons didn't allow a single third period goal. Also looking to make his mark this week will be Jake Byrne. Byrne is fresh off of a NCAA national championship with the Johns Hopkins University Blue Jays, in which he led the team with 4 goals.
Dragons captain and reigning Bud Light MLL Player of the Year Ryan Powell ranks ninth in the league with 13 points (4g, 8a, 1 two point goal), even though the Dragons have played half as many games as some other MLL teams.
Opening face-off is this Sunday, June 10th at 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
• Discuss this story on the Major League Lacrosse message board...
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 7, 2007
- Riptide Gain Two Picks In Next Year's Collegiate Draft - Los Angeles Riptide
- Battleground: Sweeney vs. Christmas At United Sports Training Center - Philadelphia Barrage
- Dragons Face Revitalized Chicago Squad - San Francisco Dragons
- Cannons Announce Local TV Schedule - Boston Cannons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
