Stealth win fourth straight, defeat Portland 9-7
March 25, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
San Jose Stealth News Release
(San Jose, CA, March 24, 2007) --- In a defensive battle that showcased rock solid goaltending from Stealth net minder Anthony Cosmo, the San Jose Stealth came from behind to defeat the Portland LumberJax 9-7 in Portland tonight for their fourth consecutive win.
After starting the season 1-5, the Stealth have fought their way back from the bottom of the Western Division to win four straight games and register a .500 record of 5-5. The win tonight also puts the Stealth one game ahead of Edmonton, and into fourth place in the Western Division. With the top four teams in each division earning playoffs spots, the Stealth now sit with the final play off spot in the West. Earlier this evening, the league leading Colorado Mammoth fell to the Buffalo Bandits, ending their six game winning streak, so it's safe to say the Stealth are the hottest team in the Western Division.
The first quarter showcased the skill of the Stealth's special teams units, which rank second in the NLL in penalty killing and fifth in the NLL on the power play. Although Portland drew first blood off a goal by Matt Holman at 2:46, the Stealth evened the score on a power play goal by Gary Rosyski at 4:37. The Stealth profiled the power of their penalty-killing unit by holding Portland scoreless on four power play attempts and scoring two shorthanded goals. Andrew Burkholder converted the first shorthanded attempt at 7:31 and Cam Sedgwick added the second at 11:37 to give the Stealth at 3-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Portland fought back in the second quarter, scoring three goals in the first five minutes to take a 4-3 lead. At 5:24, LumberJax Defender Brodie Merrill received a two-minute Slashing penalty and Gary Rosyski converted on the power play for his second goal of the night to tie the score at four. Portland regained the lead when Kelly Hall scored off an assist from Peter Morgan who would go on to score the next goal at 8:38 to give Portland a 6-4 advantage. Darren Halls scored his first goal of the season for the Stealth at 10:16 off a beautiful give and go from Colin Doyle to bring the Stealth within one for the final goal of the second quarter. The teams entered the locker room with Portland leading 6-5.
The second half belonged to the Stealth as they outscored the LumberJax 4-1 and Anthony Cosmo made seventeen saves. After an early power play goal by Portland the start of the third period, the Stealth rallied to tie the game at seven. Jeff Zywicki converted for his first goal of the night on the power play at 3:51 and Luke Wiles scored with four seconds remaining in the quarter on a beautiful underhand shot. Five minutes into the fourth quarter, Rookie Defender Steve Holmes scored the eventual game winning goal on a breakaway when he beat LumberJax Goaltender Dallas Eliuk to make it 8-7. Colin Doyle added the insurance goal on the power play at 12:12 to give the Stealth a 9-7 lead and the victory. Stealth Goaltender Anthony Cosmo made ten saves in the final quarter of play and held Portland to seven goals on the night, the fewest he's allowed all season.
The Stealth return to HP Pavilion tomorrow night to face-off against the Edmonton Rush at 5 p.m. The Stealth are currently 1-0 against the Rush after defeating them 11-9 on March 2 in Edmonton.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from March 25, 2007
- Stealth wins fifth straight, routs Edmonton 14-7 - San Jose Stealth
- Portland Loses See-Saw Battle in the Rose Garden - Portland Lumberjax
- Stealth win fourth straight, defeat Portland 9-7 - San Jose Stealth
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