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Jax Head North Of The Border

March 6, 2008 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Portland Lumberjax News Release


PORTLAND, March 6, 2008 - There's only one game left for the Portland LumberJax before the 2008 National Lacrosse League All-Star Game and the Jax want to enter the break alone in third place in the West Division. To do so, the Jax (3-6) will have to beat the Calgary Roughnecks on Saturday, March 8 at 6:30 p.m. at Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary. The Roughnecks (3-6) are coming off a 9-7 loss to the Toronto Rock in Ontario. Portland is coming off a 2-1 homestand that culminated with a 9-7 loss to the Edmonton Rush.

The Jax and Roughnecks have met twice already this season, splitting the season series thus far. Calgary won the first meeting 13-7 on Jan. 26 in Alberta. Portland came back on Feb. 17 and beat Calgary 13-9 at the Rose Garden Arena.

Calgary led 8-6 late in the third quarter before Portland rattled off seven straight goals to put the game away. Forward's Peter Morgan, Matt Holman, Spencer Martin, Dan Dawson and Cory Conway and defenseman Brodie Merrill all scored during the game clinching run.

As the Jax offense brought the team back in the game, the defense kept the Calgary offense from scoring for nearly 19 minutes. The Roughnecks took an 8-6 lead with 4:18 left in the third quarter and did not score again until there were 22-seconds left in the game.

Overall, the Roughnecks hold a 3-2 all-time lead in the series. Just like their identical records, Portland and Calgary also have the same number of All-Star's this season. Calgary will send forward Lewis Ratcliff, transition player Jeff Shattler and defenseman Andrew McBride. Ratcliff leads the Roughnecks with 22 goals scored and 27 assists. His 49 points scored place him in a fifth place tie in the NLL.

Shattler is fourth on the team in points scored (25) and second in loose balls collected (64). McBride has collected a team-high 25 penalty minutes.

Portland will send forward Ryan Powell and Dawson and Merrill to the league's eighth All-Star Game. Powell, the franchise leader in assists (80) and points scored (128), has paced the team with 13 goals scored and 23 assists. Powell has scored four points or more in six of the nine games this season.

In his first season in Portland, Dawson has wreaked havoc on the opposition. He leads the team with 17 goals scored, 24 assists and 41 points scored. He's also had two games where he's collected 10 loose balls.

Merrill, who will start, has continued to pace the defensive line and move the ball in transition. Taking on more of the scoring load this season, Merrill has scored 11 goals and added 10 assists. 16 of his 21 points scored have come in the last four games.

Merrill also continues to lead the league in loose balls collected with 111 thus far. In 2007, he became only the third player to ever lead the NLL in loose balls collected when he scooped up 196.

This is the third and final regular season meeting between these two clubs this season. The winner will take the season series and will hold a crucial head-to-head advantage that will be critical come playoff time. A 4-6 record and sole possession of third place in the wild, West Division is also on the line. Think either of these team need any more motivation?

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