Rochester Rattlers at Philadelphia Barrage
Published on June 25, 2004 under Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Dallas Rattlers News Release
The Rochester Rattlers (3-2) return to action on Saturday, June 26th against the Philadelphia Barrage. The contest is part of a two-game road swing that takes Rochester back to Baltimore on Saturday, July 10th. The 7:00 p.m. game will be broadcast live on News Talk 950 WROC-AM and webcast at SportsJuice.com.
Rochester is currently riding a season-high two-game winning streak after beating the New Jersey Pride 17-11 Friday night at home. In the home victory, Rattlers goalie Tillman Johnson set a league record by making 31 saves in only his second professional game.
Philadelphia is coming off a 19-18 overtime loss to the Baltimore Bayhawks this past weekend. The win by the Bayhawks (3-2) kept them tied for first place in the National Division with the Rattlers. The Barrage fell to 1-4 with the loss and 0-3 at home at Villanova Stadium.
Rochester can make history if it wins this weekend, becoming the fastest Rattlers team to reach four wins in a season. The 2001 Rattlers achieved their fourth victory of the season in their seventh game. That season marked the last and only time the team has made the playoffs.
The game this Saturday is the second and final regular season meeting between the two teams. Rochester won the first contest, 24-17, on May 29th. That night, Casey Powell (3+3), Kevin Cassese (4+2) and Ryan Ward (4+2) each had six-point efforts.
Rochester leads the all-time series with the Barrage with a 9-0 record. Eight of those victories were against the Bridgeport Barrage. The franchise relocated to Villanova this season.
The Rattlers are led by Ryan Powell, who is currently fourth in the MLL with 26 points (16+10). Johnson also ranks among the league's best. He is tied for second in the MLL with two wins in two starts and has a 10.50 goals-against average.
In addition, Johnson has won MLL awards in consecutive weeks, garnering Cascade Rookie of the Week honors last week and Co-Defensive Player of the Week accolades for his efforts last Friday night. On the season, he has recorded 53 saves in two games and leads the MLL with a .716 save percentage.
This weekend, Johnson will face the team that dealt him on draft day: June 3, 2004. Rochester acquired the highly-touted goalie, midfielder Steve Vallone and a 2005 Third Round Collegiate Draft Pick from Philadelphia for attackman Ryan Boyle and midfielder Mike Mollot.
Johnson was the Barrage's first-round selection (3rd overall) and has been a wall for the Rattlers in his two starts. The Annapolis, Md., native played four seasons at the University of Virginia and was the 2003 NCAA Division I Goalie of the Year and the Player of the Year as the Cavaliers won the national championship.
Boyle registered three goals and two assists in his professional debut on June 19th and was named the Cascade MLL Rookie of the Week. Mollot has notched two goals and one assist in three games with the Barrage.
Boyle is a welcomed addition to the team tied for the least amount of goals scored in the league this season. The Barrage have netted just 70 goals in five games. The Rattlers, however, have had better luck as they enter the contest tied for the league lead with 88 goals.
Defensively, Rochester has allowed a league low 74 goals. Philadelphia is third in the MLL with 81 goals against behind the goaltending of Greg Cattrano. Cattrano is third in the MLL with a .562 save percentage and fourth with a 16.10 goals-against average. The Barrage goalie is the league's all-time leader in wins with 28.
Rochester will have some time off during the July 4th weekend before heading to Baltimore for the third and final game against the Baltimore Bayhawks. The season series is tied 1-1 with Rochester winning the last meeting on June 13th, 14-12, to break an eight-game losing streak to the Bayhawks and earn its first victory ever in Baltimore.
The Rattlers return home on Saturday, July 17th to host the Boston Cannons at 7:30 p.m. The game is the second and final meeting between the two teams. The Cannons won the first game, 21-19, on June 5th.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 25, 2004
- Lizards vs Bayhawks Game Postponed to July 2nd - New York Lizards
- Philadelphia Barrage vs. Rochester Rattlers - Philadelphia Barrage
- Week Six in the MLL: A Rematch, a Recovery and Record-Breakers - MLL
- Rochester Rattlers at Philadelphia Barrage - Dallas Rattlers
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