VooDoo Travel to Top-Seeded Soul on Saturday

Published on July 25, 2012 under Arena Football League (AFL)
New Orleans VooDoo News Release


NEW ORLEANS (July 25, 2012) - The No. 4 seed New Orleans VooDoo (8-10) will travel to the No. 1 Philadelphia Soul (15-3) on Saturday for the first round of the American Conference playoffs. Kickoff is set for 6:05 p.m. CT at the Wells Fargo Center.

"Our guys are loose and excited about the opportunity to play in the playoffs and to play Philadelphia again. No one expects us to win, but we believe, which is something we have done all season," said Head Coach Pat O'Hara.

With the VooDoo coming off a tough 55-48 loss versus the Georgia Force, while the Soul on have won their last 8 games, including last Sunday's against the Utah Blaze, 69-34. The Soul clinched home field advantage and the No. 1 overall seed in the American Conference in Week 15, and it can be argued that the team hasn't played a meaningful game since.

"The last 2 weeks have been rough on our team, staff, and organization, but there's a reason we're in the playoffs, we didn't finish the season as we'd hoped. There are 10 teams sitting at home right now and there's 8 still playing. We're here and we have earned an opportunity - now it's how we take that opportunity and approach it," said O'Hara.

The last time the VooDoo and Soul met was in Week 2, serving as both teams' first games of the 2012 season. The contest in The Graveyard was a neck-and-neck until the end, with the VooDoo having a chance to win with a last-second field goal, but it was blocked by the Soul, preserving a 63-62 win. Not only did the blocked field goal haunt the VooDoo in the loss, but the club also missed two PAT's in the game as well.

"That was a long time ago - four kickers ago - and both of us are different teams. We're a lot better team now then we were in our first game. Special teams is something we work on every day; it's part of being strong on all three sides of the ball. As a team we're going to need to step up on all three sides of the ball to beat an outstanding Soul team," said O'Hara.

In order for the VooDoo to progress in the playoffs, Rocco will have to continue his career season with a career game. Rocco posted nine 300-plus yard passing performances in the regular season, and knows entering this first round playoff game, he will more than likely need a stellar performance.

"We got here, we made it, and we're in, so it's really like the start of a new season and we have to look at that as a team. I'm not looking at past games or looking anything else other than focusing on winning this game," said Rocco.

The VooDoo head into the playoffs for the first time since 2004, and are well aware that in two weeks the AVIATE ArenaBowl XXV will be played in New Orleans, the place they call home. They would like to play in The Graveyard, and make it a home game rather than a neutral site.

"For sure we want to be able to play in New Orleans, in front of our fans. I want to get there and everyone wants to get there as a team. We all want a ring; it's something we have focused on all season. We have a few older guys that maybe on their way out and what would be better than to get a chance to fight for a championship," said Rocco about his ArenaBowl hope.

The VooDoo and Soul kickoff Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. CT.

VooDoo on Television: None

VooDoo on the Radio: 99.5 FM WRNO "Rush Radio"

VooDoo Broadcast Team: Ken Trahan (play-by-play), Brandon Rizzuto (sideline)

VooDoo on the Internet: www.wrno.com

VooDoo live game feed: www.ustream.tv/NewOrleansVooDoo

VooDoo live statistics: http://livestats.prestosports.com/neworleansvoodoo

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