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New York Lizards

Lizards Game Notes

June 29, 2007 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New York Lizards News Release


Long Island Lizards (4-1) vs Phi ladelphia Bar rage (3-2)

Date Opponent Result / Time Attendance / Stadium Bud Light MVP / TV & Radio

5/25 vs BOS W, 16-12 4,752 S. Berger (5 goals)

6/02 at Sf W, 14-12 4,112 K. Cromwell (2g, 4a)

6/09 at Was L, 18-15 1,997 M. Mollot (4 goals)

6/16 vs PHI W, 16-11 5,103 C. Fiore (2 goals)

6/23 vs WAS W, 13-9 3,895 S. Berger (3g, 1 two)

6/30 at Phi 7:00 PM UST Center TBD

7/05 vs ROC 7:30 PM Mitchel FSNY (LIVE) / WRHU

7/08 All-Star 12:30 PM Harvard ESPN2

7/14 at Roc 7:30 PM Paetec Park TBD

7/21 at Nj 7:30 PM Yurcak Field TBD

7/28 vs DEN 7:00 PM Mitchel FSNY (LIVE) / WRHU

8/02 at Bos 8:30 PM Harvard TBD

8/11 vs NJ 7:00 PM Mitchel FSNY (LIVE) / WRHU

TBD Semifinal TBD TBD TBD

8/26 Final 1:00 PM TBD ESPN2

A Look at the Lizards

After five games, the Lizards are alone atop the both the Eastern Division and the entire MLL with a 4-1 record, however, Philadelphia (3-2), Rochester (3-2) and Washington (4-3) are all on the Lizards' heels. The Lizards defense has been stellar in the last two weeks, holding highscoring Philadelphia and Washington to 11 and 9 points, respectively. Nicky Polanco, John Gagliardi and Frank D'Agostino have been dominant in front of Nick Murtha, the MLL's top goaltender. Murtha owns the best goals against average (11.1) in the league and the secondbest save percentage (55.4%). Offensively, the Lizards have been led by the MLL's first All-Star out of a D3 college, Stephen Berger, who has 14 goals and appears to have returned to lead the midfield unit after starting the year on attack. Peter Vlahakis, who owns the best faceoff win percentage in the league, is on IR due to a sprained knee. Rookie Joe Mascaretti will get his first MLL start in the faceoff circle.

LIZARDS TOP FIVE

Stephen Berger leads team with 14 goals on attack / midfield

Tim Goettelmann 3 goals last week

Nicky Polanco Two-time defensive player of the year

Peter Vlahakis 58.3% faceoff win pct best in league

Nick Murtha Top goalie in MLL 11.1 GAA 55.4 save pct

Philadelphia Barrage

The Barrage stormed out to a 3-0 start to the season before suffering their first loss to Long Island two weeks ago at Mitchel Athletic Complex. Then, the defending champs lost again last week at Rochester against the high-scoring Rattlers. However, Philadelphia is a perfect 2-0 at home and is looking for revenge tonight. Ryan Boyle leads the league in points with 31, while a vicious defense featuring Brian Spallina, Brian Kuczma, Kyle Sweeney and Joe Ceglia stand in front of former Lizard and MLL All-Star goaltender Brian Dougherty. Long Island was able to put up 16 on the Barrage defense two weeks ago, and they may need every one of those points with Matt Striebel and Roy Colsey joining Philly on offense.

BARRAGE TOP FIVE

Ryan Boyle 14 goals, 16 assists Leads MLL in pts

Matt Striebel 12 goals, 4 assists

Roy Colsey 10 goals, 3 assists in 4 games

Brian Spallina Top defenseman

Brian Dougherty Former Lizard 52.7% save pct

Wake up, midfield

The Lizards midfield scored only five goals last week, with Stephen Berger recording a hat-trick and Blake Miller chipping in two. Austin Garrison, Adam Borcz, and Chris Fiore were all held scoreless. Garrison chipped in three goals two weeks ago against Washington, while Fiore added two, his best performance as a Lizard. Borcz has been held to just one goal in the last two weeks, since scoring three goals including a two-pointer three weeks ago at Washington.

Murtha rock-solid

With the retirement of Greg Cattrano this offseason, long time Lizard backup Nick Murtha wasn't given long to prove himself. Murtha, who served as the Lizards backup for both Cattrano and former starter Brian Dougherty, was picked up in the expansion draft and fumbled in his chance as a starter last season with expansion Chicago, starting 0-8 before being dealt back to the Lizards in a sweetheart deal. It was widely believed that Murtha was just filling in before the Lizards picked up a goaltender in the 2007 collegiate draft; and they did, selecting the nation's top graduating goaltender in Matt McMonagle. However, Murtha's been so stellar that McMonagle is yet to see any real minutes in net. Murtha has the league's best goals against average (11.1) and the second-best save percentage (55.4%). In a related move, the team waived goaltender Joe Canuso as McMonagle is now serving as the team's backup.

Last Game - Long Island 13, Washington 9

Midfielder Stephen Berger scored three goals, including a two-pointer, and added an assist to lead the Long Island Lizards (4-1) to their third win in the last four games, a 13-9 victory over the Washington Bayhawks (4-3) at Mitchel Athletic Complex on Saturday evening. It was the Bayhawks' second straight loss after a 4-1 start. Berger and Cromwell each had five points in the victory while Goettelmann had three goals and an assist. Attackman Frank Resetarits scored two goals and had two assists in his MLL debut.

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