Top two teams in National Division battle in Friday night showdown
June 24, 2003 - Major League Lacrosse (MLL)
Dallas Rattlers News Release
(Rochester, NY)... The Rochester Rattlers host the defending Major League Lacrosse Champion Baltimore Bayhawks on Friday, June 27th at Bishop Kearney Field. The 7:35 p.m. game will be broadcast on News Talk 950 WROC and online at rochesterrattlers.com. The contest will also be televised on ESPN2 on Tuesday, July 1st at 3:00 p.m.
The game is the first of two meetings between Rochester and Baltimore this season. Rochester travels to Baltimore for an August 9th showdown against the Bayhawks.
The game this week features the top two teams in the National Division, as Rochester carries a 2-2 record into the contest against first-place Baltimore (4-1). The Rattlers have a lifetime 1-7 record against the Bayhawks, which includes a 1-3 mark at home.
The Friday night game is the beginning of a three-game set against National Division teams. The Rattlers also play New Jersey in a home-and-home series. Rochester travels to New Jersey for a July 6th contest and returns home for a July 12th game at Bishop Kearney Field.
Rochester is coming off an emotional 18-17 overtime win against the Boston Cannons last Saturday night. Midfielder Casey Powell netted the OT game winner as part of an eight-point performance (4+4). Jake Coon earned the win in goal in his first start of the season, making 21 saves to improve to 2-1 this year.
Powell leads the Rattlers with 20 points (9+11) and is second in the MLL in that offensive category. He also leads the MLL with 11 assists. Joining Powell on the MLL Top 10 points list is Josh Coffman, who is tied for third in the league with 18 (12+6) in four games. Rookie Gewas Schindler leads the Rattlers with 14 goals.
Schindler is one of five rookies that are in the Top 10 on the Rattlers in points. Adam Doneger (5+1+1) and Spencer Wright (3+1+3) are tied for fifth on the team with seven points. Kevin Cassese (2+3) and Mike Mollot (3+2) are tied for seventh on the Rattlers with five points each.
Baltimore arrives in Rochester after an equally hard-fought win last weekend. The Bayhawks defeated the Long Island Lizards 13-12 on June 14th to earn their fourth straight victory of the season. The âHawks were led by Mark Millon (2+3) and Gary Gait (3+1). The defending MLL MVP and Goalie of the Year, Greg Cattrano, had 16 saves in the win over the Lizards. Cattrano currently leads the MLL with four wins.
On offense, the Bayhawks rank first in the league with 79 goals. A large part the offense is provided by Millon, the 2002 Warrior Offensive Player of the Year. He leads Baltimore and the MLL with 20 goals and 27 points. Not far behind Millon is player-coach Gary Gait. Gait is tied for third in the league with 18 points (14+4).
The Rattlers will prepare for the contest on Thursday night at Bishop Kearney Field, as they conduct practice at 8:00 p.m. The session is free and open to the public.
Major League Lacrosse Stories from June 24, 2003
- Top two teams in National Division battle in Friday night showdown - Dallas Rattlers
- Three Rattlers honored after road win at Boston - Dallas Rattlers
- Cannons Look to Bounce Back Friday in Jersey - Boston Cannons
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