Jax Finish Regular Season At Home

Published on April 13, 2009 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, April 13, 2009 - With second place in the West Division and a home playoff game in hand, the Portland LumberJax finish the regular season on Friday, April 17th as they 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.

The Jax (9-6) are on a three-game winning streak and are looking to finish with double digit wins for the second time in franchise history. Portland is also seeking its first winning record at home since 2006.

Last weekend, Portland first secured a playoff berth by beating the Roughnecks, 11-9, in Calgary. Then, the Jax clinched second place in the division by pummeling the Minnesota Swarm, 19-14.

In the Calgary win, which was a rematch of last season's West Division Championship, forward Peter Morgan scored two goals and added four assists. Morgan is leading the team with 27 goals on the season and is third with 50 points.

Forward Ryan Powell scored five points (2 goals, 3 assists) and forward Scott Stewart scored three goals in the road win. Goalie Matt Disher, who had not played since March 29th, stopped 36 of the 45 shots he faced in the victory.

Then, Portland saw records drop across the board as the team beat Minnesota the next evening, 19-14, to secure second place and the home playoff game.

The 19 goals scored and 35 assists dished out were both franchise-high's. Portland also set a franchise-high with eight goals in the second quarter and matched a franchise-high with 11 goals in the first half.

Forward Cory Conway tied a career-high with five assists and seven points. Defenseman Brodie Merrill, who is seven loose balls from tying a career-high, tied a career-high with six assists. Morgan scored a season-high four goals and Powell matched a Jax career-high with six assists.

Nine different players scored goals as Portland improved to 5-3 on the road this season. The Jax are now 20-8 all-time when nine or more players score goals.

The Roughnecks (11-4) clinched the division title by beating the Edmonton Rush last Saturday, 14-13.

One final regular season tune up is all that separates Portland from its second consecutive postseason. The Jax went 2-1 last year in the playoffs, falling to the Bandits in the Championship Game, 14-13. With an opening round playoff game at home this season against the San Jose Stealth, the Jax want to win the Championship more than ever.

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