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MLL New York Lizards

Long Island Lizards Open Season May 25th

May 22, 2007 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New York Lizards News Release


Uniondale, NY (May 22, 2007) -- With 2006 behind them and many lessons learned the Lizards are looking to get back to championship level in 2007 and that journey starts Friday night at home against the Boston Cannons at Mitchel Athletic Complex starting at 7:00 PM.

This is no ordinary season opener. The Lizards v. Cannons game will be shown Live on ESPN2 in HD for the entire world to see. With an audience of 84 million viewers in the United States and 17 million Internationally, ESPN2 provides the perfect platform for the Lizards to mark their arrival back on top in 2007.

"There is no bigger stage to play an athletic event than on ESPN2 in primetime," Lizard President Dave Kotowski said. "To have the opportunity to be the first lacrosse game to ever be shown in HD is tremendous. I know our players will be ready for the occasion." On the field the Lizards will look to a mixture of veteran leadership and youthful energy to lead them.

Returning on Attack will be leading scorer Keith Cromwell (Hicksville High School/ Rutgers University) who tallied 38 points in 2006. He will be playing along side one of the original Lizards from 2001 Timmy Goettelmann (Manhasset High School/ Loyola) who finished second on the team last year in scoring with 37 points and is the Lizards all time scoring leader with 219 points. The fourth and final spot will either go to Chris Massey (Garden City High School) or Pat Walsh (Wantagh High School). Massey and Walsh have both had standout careers at Princeton and Notre Dame respectively. Both players will be key parts of the offense. Stephen Berger (Baltimore, MD/ Washington College), one of the most dynamic players in the MLL, will also see some time at attack.

The Lizards return one of the strongest midfield groups in the league. Stephen Berger, Adam Borcz (Annapolis, MD/ United States Naval Academy), Austin Garrison (Manhattan, NY/ UNC Chapel Hill) and 2006 Team USA player Blake Miller (Manhasset High School/ Hofstra University) all return. Unfortunately the Lizards will be without All-World midfielder Jay Jalbert (Cold Spring Harbor High School/ University of Virginia) who is out for the season with an injury. The Lizards have brought in some new young guns in Glen Adams (Norwalk, CT/ Wesleyan College) and Jamie Ireland (Norwalk, CT/ Herkimer JC/ Syracuse University) a former JUCO Player of the Year. Pete Vlahakis (Shoreham Wading River High School/ Fairfield University) will once again be one of the most important players on the field as he led the MLL in face off percentage last year. Pete will be pushed by rookie Joe Mascaretti (Hicksville High School) from Hofstra University.

The defensive midfield unit is once again one of the strongest in the league. With the addition of All-MLL D-middie Dan Cocchi (Hicksville High School/ Towson University) to go along with John Orsen (Cold Spring Harbor High School/ Hofstra), Tim Byrnes (Baldwin High School/ Syracuse University), Ryan Moran (Chaminade High School/ University of Maryland) and Nick Russo (Comsewogue High School/ University of Virginia) the Lizards will look to shut down opposing offenses and transition the ball with this unit.

The Defense will again be the toughest in the MLL. All-MLL (2004 Defensive Player of the Year) and Team USA standout Nicky Polanco (Oceanside High School/ Nassau CC/ Hofstra) will be joined by his Team USA partner John Gagliardi (Manhasset High School/ Johns Hopkins) to anchor the core defensive group. Polanco and Gagliardi have been working all off-season to get the lizards back into Championship form. Three key players in former NCAA Defenseman of the Year Mike Howley (Wantagh High School/ University of Maryland) along with Georgetown standout Reyn Garnett and Lizards veteran Fran D'Agastino (Massapequa High School/ New York Tech) all will be fighting for the 3rd spot on the close defense. Stephen Byrnes (Mahopac High School/ UMASS) in his 2nd year with the Lizards will look to get playing time at both the long pole and close defensive positions.

In goal the Lizards said goodbye to perhaps the greatest goalie in the history of the sport when Greg Cattrano (Ward Melville High School/ Brown University) retired after last season. But they are looking for Manhasset native Nick Murtha (Manhasset High School/ Johns Hopkins) to step up between the pipes and lead them to victory. Nick will be backed up in goal by Villanova standout and former Philadelphia Barrage goalie Joe Canuso. Both goalies had tremendous training camps.

"We have a great mix of veteran leadership and young players," said Tim Kelly, General Manager of the Lizards. "Last year left a bad taste in everyone's mouth and we will not let that happen again. I can't wait to see the team out on the field on Friday night."

Leading the Lizards once again will be Head Coach Jim Mule. Mule is in his 3rd season with the Lizards. The former St. Johns and Bridgeport Barrage goalie served as the Head Coach of last year's MLL All-Star Game where the MLL took on Team USA. "Team chemistry is so important in the league. With so many returning players and a new group of great athletes, I truly believe we have the opportunity to win our 3rd World Championship," said Mule. Jim will be joined on the sidelines once again by Offensive Assistant Coach John Espey and Face-off Specialist and former Lizard Matt Schomburg. The Lizards have added a new coach who is already a familiar face to all Lizards' fans. Pat McCabe, an original Lizard has joined the team as their Defensive Assistant Coach.

Opening night will be filled with special events for all the fans including new contests like the US Limousines Ultimate Road Trip, the Response Travel Ultimate Fan Experience and the Warrior Lacrosse Equipment Give Away. The Lizards will also be unveiling their brand new Dave & Buster's Fan Zone which will open 2 hours prior to all game times.

During halftime of opening night the Lizards will be honoring both Greg Cattrano and Pat McCabe by retiring their jersey and adding them to the Lizards Hall of Fame. The Lizards will also be honoring Karen and John Acompora from the Louis Acompora Foundation (www.LA12.org) on May 25th. A portion of every ticket purchased that uses the LA12 code will go to the foundation along with the in game 50/50 raffle.

Season, group and individual game tickets are on sale now. Lizard's season tickets start at $80 and individual game tickets start at $16. Each Lizards game is an action packed event for the entire family. For ticket information call 866-LIZARDS-1 or visit www.longislandlizards.com.

About the Long Island Lizards and Major League Lacrosse

The two-time World Champion Long Island Lizards are the premier team of Major League Lacrosse. The Lizards open up their season on May 25th against their arch rival the Boston Cannon's. This game will be seen live on ESPN2. Season tickets, the VIP Experience, Birthday Parties, Flex Plans and Corporate Partnerships and Corporate Ticket Plans are on sale now. For more information, call 1-866-LIZARD-1 or visit us online at www.longislandlizards.com.

Major League Lacrosse, a ten-team professional outdoor lacrosse league, was founded in 1999 by fitness entrepreneur Jake Steinfeld, CEO of Body by Jake Global L.L.C., and founding partners Dave Morrow, a former champion lacrosse player and now CEO of Warrior Lacrosse, a leading global provider of innovative and high performance lacrosse equipment; and Timothy B. Robertson, former CEO of The Family Channel and the current chairman of Bay Shore Enterprises, L.L.C., an investment holding company with activities in international media and Internet technology ventures. The MLL commenced play in June of 2001. The MLL is comprised of two divisions. The Eastern Conference contains the original six teams, Boston, Long Island, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Rochester and Washington. The Western Conference debuted in the 2006 season with MLL expansion franchises Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additional league information can be found at www.majorleaguelacrosse.com.

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