MLL Dallas Rattlers

Rattlers Can Clinch Conference Title This Weekend

July 31, 2008 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Dallas Rattlers News Release


(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Rattlers host the Long Island Lizards on Friday, August 1st at 7:30 p.m. at PAETEC Park. The contest will be televised live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet. The game also will be broadcast live on WYSL 1040-AM and wysl1040.com.

Prior to the contest, the Rattlers will name their team MVP, Unsung Hero and Connors & Ferris Comeback Player of the Year. The first 1,000 fans will receive a John Grant player card, courtesy of Bud Light. The first 500 people will take home a Rattlers' team photo from Downtown Minuteman Press.

Fans can arrive early and enjoy the pregame party with live music from DNR. After the game, the Rattlers' official postgame party will be held at The Distillery at 1142 Mt. Hope Ave. Fans can go to any local Wendy's location to get a buy one, get one free coupon.

Head-to-Head: The game is the second and final meeting of the season between the two teams. Rochester won the first contest, 16-10, on May 17th. The Rattlers have won the last three matchups to improve to 6-9 lifetime against Lizards.

Rattlers Notes: Rochester can clinch the Eastern Conference regular-season title with a win Friday. The Rattlers have won three straight and four of their last five games. John Grant continues to lead the MLL in goals (37) and points with 52 (37+4+11). Last Saturday, Rochester clinched its fifth playoff berth in eight seasons by defeating the Boston Cannons 26-19. Grant tied a Rochester single-game record and set an MLL season high with eight goals, including a two-point marker. He also added two assists in the victory, setting a league season high with 11 points. Joe Walters has also moved into third place in league scoring with 41 points (30+11). Jeff Zywicki is sixth with 37 points (27+10) in nine games. Brodie Merrill leads all league defensemen in scoring with 13 points (5+8).

Lizards Notes: Long Island is in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and needs a win to stay alive in the playoff hunt. The Lizards have dropped their last three games, which included a 21-20 setback on July 26th at San Francisco. Stephen Berger (28+8) and Keith Cromwell (18+2+16) are tied for the team lead in points with 36 apiece. Peter Vlahakis leads the MLL with 212 faceoff wins.

Next Game: The Rochester Rattlers travel to play the Chicago Machine on Sunday, August 10th at 4:30 p.m. EST at Toyota Park. The Rattlers are 1-0 all-time against the Machine. The game will be broadcast live on WYSL 1040-AM and wysl1040.com.

SNAKE BITES:

Hitting the century mark: Midfielder Chris Schiller became the first Rattlers' player to reach the 100-game plateau. On July 26th, he played in his 96th regular-season game to go along with four playoff games.

'Get shorty': Rochester leads the league in penalty-killing efficiency, holding opponents to eight goals on 49 opportunities (84 percent). Rochester has also scored two shorthanded goals this season.

From indoors to outdoors: The Rattlers have 11 players that spent the last five months playing indoors in the National Lacrosse League. The players that will now shift their talents to the outdoor game include Brett Bucktooth (Buffalo), Colin Doyle (San Jose), John Grant (Rochester), Jordan Hall (New York), Brodie Merrill (Portland), Casey Powell (New York), Gavin Prout (Colorado), Jack Reid (Rochester), Chris Schiller (Rochester), Joe Smith (Buffalo) and Jeff Zywicki (San Jose).

Oh, Canada! Rochester has the most Canadian-born players in the MLL. The Rattlers have six players that hail from Canada and, coincidently, all five were named to the 2006 World Field Lacrosse Championships. Doyle, Grant, Hall, Merrill, Prout and Zywicki all won gold for Canada.

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Major League Lacrosse Stories from July 31, 2008


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