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Jax Clinch Home Playoff Game; Win 19-14

April 11, 2009 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 11, 2009 - Plan on being in Portland during the first weekend of May. Behind a franchise-high 19 goals from a total of nine different players, the Portland LumberJax (9-6) beat the Minnesota Swarm, 19-14, Saturday night in front of 12,574 at the Xcel Energy Center to clinch at least second place in the West Division and a home playoff game during the weekend of May 1-3. Game date and time will be announced in the coming weeks.

Season ticket holders are already guaranteed seats to the first home playoff game as a result of their season ticket packages. All other tickets will go on sale to the general public at a later time. Log onto PortlandJax.com or NLL.com for updates and the complete playoff schedule and breakdown.

New season ticket holders who put down a non-refundable deposit for the 2010 season will receive one FREE playoff ticket per season ticket purchased.

"It was quite a win to say the least," said Head Coach/General Manager Derek Keenan. "We had some new guys in the lineup and they all stepped in and contributed in a huge way. Forward Tim Campeau (3 goals, 1 assist) played awesome and I thought that forward Cory Conway (2 goals, 5 assists) had his best game as a member of the LumberJax."

Portland took an early 2-0 lead and did not soon look back. Forward Peter Jacobs (3 goals, 1 assist) scored in transition off passes from defenseman Brodie Merrill (1 goal, 6 assists, 4 loose balls) and transition player Matt Yager (2 assists) with 13:23 left in the first quarter. Then Campeau scored off a cross crease pass from forward Ryan Powell (1 goal, 6 assists) with 9:38 left in the quarter.

The Swarm would score a power play goal before Portland extended its lead to 3-1. With 5:04 left in the first quarter, Jacobs scored his second goal of the game on a nice sweep shot.

Minnesota would close the quarter on a 2-0 run to tie the game at three after one quarter of play.

The Jax began the second quarter with their first of a franchise-high eight goals as forward Peter Morgan (4 goals, 2 assists) scored off a screen with 13:52 left in the second quarter to make it 4-3. Powell followed with a goal off a pass from Derek Lowe (2 assists) with 12:39 left in the half to make it 5-3.

A Minnesota goal ended the 2-0 run, but Portland would follow with another 2-0 run to make it 7-4. Campeau scored off a pass from transition player Tyler Codron with 9:41 left in the second quarter. Forward Scott Stewart (2 goals, 2 assists) followed with 7:35 left as he scored off an assist from defenseman Luke Forget.

The Swarm again broke the 2-0 run with a goal, but this time the Jax responded with a 3-0 run to make it 10-5. Jacobs scored with 4:40 left and then P. Morgan scored with 3:45 to go. Conway capped the 3-0 run as the second-year forward scored off passes from Merrill and transition player Jamison Koesterer with 2:58 left in the half to make it 10-5.

Minnesota scored its sixth goal of the game with 2:22 left in the half before Portland scored its 11th goal of the game and eighth of the second quarter with 1:15 left. In transition, Stewart weaved through the Swarm defense and pushed the lead to 11-6 at the half.

The Swarm scored the opening goal of the half and then watched as Portland scored two straight to make it 13-7. P. Morgan scored with 8:40 left in the third quarter and forward Derek Malawsky (2 goals) scored with 7:23 left.

After a Minnesota goal, Campeau made it 14-8 as the rookie scored with 4:11 left. P. Morgan followed with his fourth goal of the game with 2:43 left in the quarter to make it 15-8. The Swarm would scored the final goal of the quarter to make it 15-9 after three quarters of play.

Conway opened the fourth quarter with his second goal of the game one-minute in to make it 16-9. The Swarm would then rattle off four straight goals to trim the Portland lead to 16-13.

However, the Jax responded in usual fashion. Malawsky scored with 5:04 left and then defenseman Richard Morgan scored 39-seconds later to make it 18-13.

Minnesota would add its 14th goal of the game before Portland's milestone goal. With 2:22 left, Merrill scored off assists from goalie Joel Weber (1 assist, 18 saves) and defenseman Pat Jones (2 assists) to give Portland a franchise-high 19 goals in the 19-14 win.

Goalie Matt Disher played the first 43:59, stopping 23 of the 31 shots he faced in the win.

The Jax return home on Friday, April 17th to host the Calgary Roughnecks at 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Garden Arena. It's "Fan Appreciation Night" and the first 5000 fans receive a team poster.

Notes: Conway eclipsed the 50 point mark this season and also tied a career-high with five assists and seven points...Portland matched a franchise-high with 11 first half goals and eight goals in the second quarter...Portland's 35 assists were a franchise-high...The Jax are 20-8 all-time when nine or more players score goals...P. Morgan scored a season-high four goals...Powell tied a Jax career-high with six assists...Merrill tied a career-high with six assists and eclipsed the 100 assist total for his career...Campeau has scored three goals in each of the last two games he's appeared in...Jones has already set a career-high with nine assists...With 10 points Forget has set a career-high.

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