Titans Knocked Out Of 2008 Playoffs With Loss To Buffalo In Eastern Conference Finals
Published on May 10, 2008 under National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Orlando Titans News Release
Buffalo, N.Y. - The New York Titans' incredible run came to an end Saturday night, when the Buffalo Bandits defeated them 19-12 in the NLL Eastern Conference Finals. In only their second season in existence, the Titans made their first appearance in the playoffs finishing the season with a 10-6 record and then barreling past Minnesota to secure a place in the Eastern Conference Finals. Prior to Saturday's game, the Titans had won five straight games with the help of a hot offense and stellar goaltending by Matt Vinc.
After taking a two-goal lead early in the first quarter of play in the conference finals, the Titans lost their momentum and allowed the Bandits to heat up and take a sizable lead in the first half. The Titans made valiant runs to recapture the lead, but were ultimately unable to overcome the early deficit.
Mike "the Maestro" McLellan started the night off with an early goal in front of the crease for the Titans off an assist in traffic from Pat Maddelana. At 4:26, Greg Peyser scored the second goal of the night for the Titans on a fast break after Titans defender John Orsen snatched a cross-crease pass from the Bandits. The Bandits answered back five minutes later to bring the score to 2-1.
Within less than a minute, Titans Maddalena scored an unassisted power play goal, to reclaim the Titans two-goal lead. The Bandits and the Titans each exchanged a goal before the Bandits went on a three-goal run to end the quarter with a 5-4 lead over the Titans.
Mark Steenhuis opened up the second quarter with a quick goal to put the Bandits two goals up. But Brendan Mundorf answered back with his signature reach-around goal, to bring the score to 6-5.
Midway through the second quarter, the Titans went on a scoring drought and allowed the Bandits to score three unanswered goals and take a commanding 9-5 lead over the Titans as the half expired.
Steenhuis scored a quick goal at the start of the first half to bring the Bandits lead to 10-5.
Titans captain Casey Powell put the game on his shoulders after the Bandits took a five goal lead over the Titans and scored back-to-back goals, to cut the Bandits lead to 10-7. But the Bandits kept their momentum, answering back with two goals of their own.
Again New York wouldn't go silently into the night, scoring three goals to clip the Bandits' lead to 12-10. The Bandits netted one more goal before the quarter expired and the Titans entered the final quarter in regulation with a 13-10 deficit.
In the fourth quarter, however, the Titans blinked and allowed the Bandits to score two goals early. Titans starting goalie Matt Vinc was pulled and back-up Erik Miller was put in goal for the second time this season. Following the goals, there was a fight by the Buffalo bench, and Titans Rory Smith and Patrick Merrill were ejected from the game as was Ian Llord for Buffalo. The Titans were forced to play man down to serve out a five-minute penalty.
After the fight, Steenhuis went onto score three more goals and Roger Vyse added a fourth unanswered goal for the Bandits, to put the game completely out of reach for the Titans.
Park and Maddalena scored two more goals for the Titans to bring the score to 18-12. The Bandits got one more goal in before the clock expired and closed the game at 19-12 to end the Titans' hopes of hosting the Championship game.
Casey Powell had six points for the Titans off of two goals and four assists.
Buffalo's Mark Steenhuis was the game's leading scorer with six goals.
Buffalo will take on the winner of the Western Conference Finals - Calgary or Portland - on Saturday, May 17 at HSBC Arena for the NLL Champion's Cup.
National Lacrosse League Stories from May 10, 2008
- Eliuk saves the day as Jax roll Roughnecks, 18-16 - Portland Lumberjax
- Calgary bows in fourth quarter - Calgary Roughnecks
- Bandits defeat Titans 19-12 - Buffalo Bandits
- Titans Knocked Out Of 2008 Playoffs With Loss To Buffalo In Eastern Conference Finals - Orlando Titans
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