Western Divisional Finals Preview: San Jose Stealth Vs. Arizona Sting
April 27, 2007 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
San Jose Stealth News Release
(San Jose, CA, April 27, 2007) --- On Saturday, April 28, a fiery San Jose Stealth squad will fight for their second straight upset in the Champions Cup Playoffs as they battle the Arizona Sting at Arizona in the Western Divisional Finals at 7:30 p.m. PST. The winner of this single elimination game will advance to the Champions Cup Finals to face the winner of the Buffalo/Rochester Eastern Divisional Finals.
After defeating the top seeded and defending NLL Champion Colorado Mammoth in sudden death overtime last weekend, the Stealth will now zero in on the Sting, the only team they failed to beat in the 2007 regular season. This game promises to be a battle of the goaltenders. San Jose will have Anthony Cosmo, the number one net minder in the NLL in both save percentage (.792) and goals against average (10.22), centering their defense, while Arizona will post the lethal Rob Blasdell in their cage. Blasdell finished just behind Cosmo in goals against (10.94), and made 74 saves on 94 shots in two wins against the Stealth this season.
"For the last 10 games Anthony Cosmo has been the backbone of our run," said Stealth Head Coach Walt Christianson. "We've been pretty successful and Anthony has played outstanding."
Cosmo will need to be at the top of his game to stop Sting leading scorer, 6'5" All Star Forward Dan Dawson. Dawson led the Sting in scoring against the Stealth, notching 15 points on eight goals and seven assists, and scored the game winning goal in Arizona's 10-9 win on March 31. Also troublesome on the Sting attack is ex-Stealth player Derek Malawsky. The eight year NLL veteran garnered a team high six points on two goals and four assists in the Western Divisional Semifinal victory over Calgary last weekend.
On the Stealth side, Jeff Zywicki, the hero of San Jose's thrilling overtime win against Colorado, pairs with veteran Colin Doyle as the Stealth's main explosive scoring threats. In two games against the Sting, Doyle had 12 points (1-11=12) while Zywicki scored eight (7-1=8). Outside of posting up big points for the Stealth, both All-Stars have also stepped up in leadership roles on and off the turf. Doyle, who has won three Champions Cups with the Toronto Rock, offers veteran experience and composure to the young Stealth squad, while Alternate Captain Zywicki earns admiration for his play.
"Colin has been great on the bench, and I actually talked to him this week about the way he was on the bench in Colorado," said Christianson. "He is very vocal, and does a number of things to motivate his teammates. He remains tremendously positive even when we're down."
In terms of Zywicki, Christianson added, "Jeff is a great player and a natural goal scorer. What people don't see is he's wearing an 'A' this season (mark for Alternate Captain), and he's matured off the floor as well as on the floor. That I think is contributing to his game. He's become a leader, which his team respects him for."
Zywicki scored a franchise record-tying seven goals, including the game winner, in the victory over Colorado that propelled the Stealth into their first Western Division Finals. His play on Saturday night will be crucial in whether or not the Stealth advance to their very first Champions Cup Finals.
Stealth fans can listen to the San Jose take on Arizona in the Western Divisional Finals on KLIV 1590 AM with Stealth play-by-play man Rocky Koplik calling the action.
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National Lacrosse League Stories from April 27, 2007
- Western Divisional Finals Preview: San Jose Stealth Vs. Arizona Sting - San Jose Stealth
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