One day remaining until MLL Championship Weekend at the Home Depot Center
August 24, 2006 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL) News Release
CARSON, CALIFORNIA - Thursday, August 24, 2006 - The best lacrosse players in the world are set to arrive in Southern California this week, as The Home Depot Center is set to host the Major League Lacrosse New Balance Championship Weekend on Friday, Aug. 25 and Sunday, Aug. 27. The MLL Semifinals feature the Western Conference Champion Denver Outlaws against the San Francisco Dragons on Aug. 25 at 6:00 p.m. followed by the Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia Barrage vs. the Boston Cannons at 8:30 p.m. The MLL Semifinals will be broadcast live in full television quality at www.budlight.com. The MLL Finals take place on Aug. 27 at 2:00 p.m. live on ESPN2.
Tickets for New Balance MLL Championship Weekend at The Home Depot Center are on sale now. Championship Packs begin at just $50 and include a ticket to each of the three games and an autographed action photo of Riptide attackman Michael Watson. For more information or to purchase tickets, please call toll free at 1-866-4-LAX-TIX.
MLL Championship Weekend Update
Popular L.A. Based Band To Provide Entertainment: On Aug. 25 and Aug. 27, the popular Los Angeles-based band I'Kona, which has recently opened for Blues Traveler and Big Head Todd and the Monsters, will perform in the Deep End, a free fan village on the north side of the stadium that boasts interactive games and booths, food and drinks for purchase and a standing only area to watch the game on the field
Friday Night Happy Hour Package: At the MLL Semifinals on Friday evening, lacrosse fans that are over 21 years of age can purchase the Friday Night Happy Hour Package that provides access to the Bud Light Beer Garden, an exclusive field level beer garden providing private beer concessions as well as appearances by Los Angeles Riptide players and the Bud Light Girls.
Recognize The Best Of 2006: The MLL Award luncheon will take place on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. in the American Express Stadium Club at The Home Depot Center. Open to all media members, the MLL Award luncheon recognizes the best of Major League Lacrosse from the 2006 season.
It's a Feeding Frenzy: On Sunday, Aug. 27, the Riptide will host the first annual Feeding Frenzy Middle School Lacrosse Tournament on Field 5 at The Home Depot Center from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The round-robin tournament will feature four Southern California boys' lacrosse teams, with the top two teams winning tickets to the 2007 Riptide home opener, and the winning team earning the Feeding Frenzy Survivors crown and a suite to a 2006-2007 L.A. Kings game. Featured in the tournament will be the Los Angeles Lacrosse League All-Stars and the San Fernando Valley Lacrosse League All-Stars, among others. Coaches interested in registering teams for the tournament should contact Chris Crotty at (213) 742-7215.
Play Like a Warrior Today: Following the Feeding Frenzy Middle School Lacrosse Tournament on the morning of Aug. 27, Warrior Lacrosse will host a youth lacrosse clinic on Field 5 from 12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m.
This Trojan is a Dragon: As a member of the San Francisco Dragons, midfielder Nate Watkins will participate in the Major League Lacrosse New Balance Championship Weekend at The Home Depot Center on August 25. Watkins is more than a player, though. The University of Maryland graduate is also the head lacrosse coach at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif. The fifth-year MLL veteran was sixth on the Dragons in goals (15) and points (20) during the regular season. He was also tied for fifth in groundballs with 24.
Outlaws Back For More: In its first season of existence, the expansion Denver Outlaws managed to put together the best record in Major League Lacrosse at 10-2 and pack fans into Invesco Field at Mile High. Led by Matt Brown (38 goals, 7 assists), Mike Law (31 goals, 5 assists), Jeff Sonke (22 goals, 10 assists, league-leading eight two-pointers), Josh Sims (19 goals, 11 assists) and star goalkeeper Trevor Tierney, the Outlaws eliminated the L.A. Riptide from the playoffs in the final game of the regular season at The Home Depot Center and led the league in attendance, drawing an average of 11,600 fans per game.
Not So Hidden Dragon: The San Francisco Dragons qualified for the MLL Championship Weekend with a dramatic come from behind victory on the final day of the regular season. Finishing the club's first-ever season with a 7-5 record, the Dragons snagged the league's final wild card playoff spot. Led by the 2006 Warrior Offensive Player of the Year Ryan Powell (34 goals, 24 assists), a true lacrosse superstar from what is considered the first family of the sport and defender Eric Martin, Dragons head coach Brian Silcott coaxed his solid team into the playoffs for the first time ever.
Boston Looking To End a Curse: The Boston Cannons are the only team in MLL history to qualify for the playoffs in all six years of the league. However, the Cannons are still searching for that elusive first MLL Championship. Led by attackman John Christmas, the recipient of the 2006 Warrior Most Improved Player Award, and leading scorer Conor Gill, the Cannons are looking to handle Philadelphia for the third time this season. The Cannons have lost three of their last four games heading into the playoffs, but are looking to turn that around against the Barrage, which defeated Boston in the team's only appearance in the MLL Finals in 2004.
A Philadelphia Story: The Philadelphia Barrage finished tied with Denver for the best record in the league at 10-2. However, Philadelphia's only two losses this season came at the hands of Boston, its opponent in the MLL Semifinals on Aug. 25. Led by 2006 Warrior Goalie of the Year Brian Dougherty (11.60 GAA, 62.7 save percentage), who did not play in the Barrage's two losses to Boston, Philadelphia has been difficult to defeat in 2006. 2006 Coach of the Year Tony Resch commands a powerful team, with Ryan Boyle leading the way for the Barrage on offense, racking up 25 assists this season and finishing second on the team in total points with 42.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from August 24, 2006
- One day remaining until MLL Championship Weekend at the Home Depot Center - MLL
- Powell named MLL MVP - San Francisco Dragons
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