Dragons spoil Lizards bid, 21-20

Published on July 26, 2008 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
San Francisco Dragons News Release


Uniondale, NY- The Long Island Lizards at 5-4 were looking to secure a bid to the MLL playoffs, while Dragons, already eliminated, were looking for a solid team win and possibly playing the spoiler which is precisely what the Dragons did. With 10 players distributing the scoring, the Dragons beat Long Island on the road 21-20. This was the Dragons first win on the road and the highest scoring game they have had all season.

The Lizard scored first with veteran attackman Spencer Ford at 4 minutes into the 1st quarter. In the next minute the Dragons struck back twice with unassisted midfielder Brendan Loftus acquiring the first of his four goals followed by specialist Greg Gurenlian winning the faceoff and feeding Jake Byrne for the Dragons to go up by one. Long Island turned around and racked up 3 goals in a row to take back the lead. Dragons' attackman and captain Liam Banks picked his first goal with a behind the back shot from a MLL All Star attackman Jake Byrne pass. Midfielder Bill McGlone followed up to net his first goal unassisted.

At the end of 1st quarter, the score is tied 4-4.

In the 2nd quarter, MLL All Star defender and captain Eric Martin rocketed over the fifty yard line, through LI defense for an unassisted goal to put San Francisco up by one. Long Island midfielder Glenn Adams got his second goal to tie the game back up. Face off specialist Gurenlian continued his MVP game winning play by dominating the majority of the face offs which led to a Dragons 5 goal run on offense.

The Dragons lead 12-7 at the half.

In the second half, the Dragons continued to control the face-offs but the Lizards slowly managed to creep back into striking distance with the conversion of 3 2-point goals. The Dragons managed to keep themselves on top and the final score was a tight win at 21-20.

Ratcliff had a huge game garnering 5 goals and 1 assist and McGlone also picked up 6 points with 2 goals and 4 assists. Loftus netted 4 goals as did Banks. Martin, Fairlie, midfielder Ryan Cranston and Mike Podgajny all scored. Byrne was good for 1 goal and 1 assist while Tim Booth and Xander Ritz were good for an assist each. Gurenlian won 57% of the face-offs, picked up 22 ground balls (one shy of the MLL record) and had 4 points: 1 goal and 3 assists. He was also named the MLL Bud Light MVP of the game. Goalie keeper stats were not available at the time of this press release.

Midfielders Stephen Berger (4 goals and 2 assists) and Keith Cromwell (4 g, 2@2 pts, and 2a) led the Long Island scorers. The Lizards fall to 5-5 and head to Rochester next Friday, August 1.

San Francisco hosts Los Angeles on Saturday, August 2 at 7PM (ET) at Spartan Stadium for their final home game and the second of three games against the Riptide.



Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 26, 2008


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