Landsharks early surprise in NLL

by Marc Viquez
January 29, 2003 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)

Don't blink, but the Columbus Landsharks are 5-1 in the National Lacrosse League and have yet to show signs of stopping so far this season. After a recent 14-9 victory over the Calgary Roughnecks the team knew not to get too excited, despite being predicted to not even win as many as five games this year.

"We have not done anything yet. We are only 5-1 and the last time I checked there were sixteen games on the season," said Sharks Head Coach/GM Ron Roy after the Calgary game. "You can't get respect unless you beat good teams and beat another good team tonight."

The Sharks are winning with virtual unknowns in the world of lacrosse and with players who are almost brand new to the league. Nine rookies and seven more have less than two years experience. Ken Montour has played the most years in the league entering his fourth season this year. All of these new faces and rookies would almost guarantee a somewhat slow beginning to the season, but the Sharks are off to their best start in franchise history.

"We don't have any superstars, and we don't rely on any one person," added Pat Maddalena who has 15 goals on the season. "Everyone understands what they have to do: the defensive guys, the loose ball guys, the goaltending and the offensive guys. It's just guys understanding the rules and going out 100% to fulfill their roles"

Fulfilling their roles is what they will have to do when they entertain the Buffalo Bandits who knocked them off the undefeated track with a 20-6 trouncing a few weeks back. Maddalena said that the team was a little cocky coming into the contest, but understand what kind of game they have play with the division title up for line.

"They work really hard and play a different system. We have to change our game plan a little bit to play them," added Maddalena.

Columbus started the season off 3-0 before losing Buffalo, since then the team has been able to regroup and post back-to-back victories over opponents that included last year's championship finalist Albany Attack.

"One guy steps up, and everybody else follows through," added goaltender Matt King who got his first start of the season. "We're not a bunch of superstars, but we are all young players. We stay positive, keep playing hard and its been paying off"

The team ranks in the top five in a variety of categories and are number one in loose balls and short handed goals. Maddalena is third in the league in goals and fifth with 28-points, while Bill Greer is first in the league with 60 loose balls. Daniel Dawson ranks in the top 10 with 13-goals on the year.

"They are not big names yet, nobody knows them," added Roy. "They are going to make a name for themselves really soon."

The combination of speed, hunger, and talent has made Columbus the underdog story of the year. A group of young players displaying their skills in the non-traditional Central Ohio location is one of the league's highlights early on. A team picked to finish in dead last will get to prove itself with the division lead on the line when Buffalo comes to town this Saturday. Perhaps King summed up the attitude of the league this season towards the Landsharks.

"A lot of these other teams take us lightly or don't give us any respect because we're not supposed to be that good," he said. "If you are playing the Columbus Landsharks you're going to have to play 100%, because that is what we're going out with."

National Lacrosse League Stories from January 29, 2003

• Landsharks early surprise in NLL - OSC Original by Marc Viquez
• Wings Players Check-In Guests for World's Largest Pajama Party - Philadelphia Wings
• Eliuk Receive Double Awards From National Lacrosse League - Philadelphia Wings
• Rock's Manning and Wilson Awarded - Toronto Rock
• NLL Hands out Player Awards - NLL
• It's not too late to be part of something huge - Colorado Mammoth

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