Pride Gear Up For Rematch With Philadelphia
Published on July 6, 2006 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
New Jersey Pride News Release
WEST WINDSOR - With their backs against the wall, the Pride face a must win this Saturday at Mercer County Park, as New Jersey's only professional lacrosse team hosts the Philadelphia Barrage in an Eastern Conference matchup.
The Pride sit 3-4 and two full games back of Philadelphia, currently second in the conference. A win by more than one goal would give the Pride the tiebreaker with the Barrage in the season series. New Jersey currently holds the tiebreaker with Rochester, which sits one game better than the Pride in the Eastern Conference at 4-3.
"This is a huge game for us, no doubt about it,'' said Pride General Manager Trey Reeder. "You hope that you learn and you get better as the season goes on, and we'll see what we've learned so far when we lace it up on Saturday.''
For the third time in three seasons, the game is being held at Mercer County Park in the midst of the Tri-State/Warrior Lacrosse National Festival, a youth tournament featuring 200 boys and 50 girls' teams from across the country.
The tournament, which spans the length of the weekend, will halt so all in attendance can watch the Pride game. In each of the past two seasons this game has broken the Pride's single-game attendance record. Another record crowd is expected.
"Anytime you are playing in front of a while bunch of rabid lacrosse fans, you are going to get pumped up,'' said Pride head coach Peter Jacobs. "It should give us a little extra juice.''
The Pride are coming off a loss to the San Francisco Dragons in overtime, a game played on the West Coast. It was the only time the Pride will make the trip to the left coast, unless the team advances to Championship Weekend at the end of August. That weekend is hosted by Los Angeles.
The first time Philadelphia and New Jersey met was in Week 3 of 2006, a game Philadelphia won by a goal.
"We're going to be ready to play them.'' Reeder said. "I can assure you of that. I don't think we played our best game that day against them, but we have to give everything we have and come out with a win this weekend.''
Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 6, 2006
- Pride Gear Up For Rematch With Philadelphia - New Jersey Pride
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