Major League Lacrosse :      July 29, 2006 [ The Game Story]
Boston Cannons 14 New Jersey Pride 20 Scoring: Scoring: Conor Gill Brett Bucktooth David Evans John Christmas Matt Poskay Chazz Woodson Chris Fiore Bill Glading Chris Mucciolo (1, 4) (4, 0) (2, 1) (1, 1) (2, 0) (2, 0) (0, 2) (1, 0) (1, 0)     Saves: Saves: Chris Garrity 31  (0.608)     Current Record :     (7-3) Current Record :     (4-6) Team Page For 2006 Team Page For 2006       The Game Story:

(Boston, MA) New Jersey used a strong second-half offensive charge to overcome a talented Boston defense. The 4,987 in attendance rallied with their home team for most of the game, which for the most part was quid pro quo net politicking up until the third quarter when Bud Light MVP Adam Doneger hit one of his two two-point goals in addition to his, two other goals and an assist. Brett Bucktooth paced the Cannons with four goals.

New Jersey and Boston were well matched from the start. The Cannons played with the added might of their defensive players who returned from London. Garrity, Curtis, Passavia, Glatzel, and Hanford made for a strong defensive presence. New Jersey’s Andy Corno was the third-quarter key that tipped the balance. Corno’s drop plant kicked off the fast-break that led to Doneger’s two-point shot. The Pride used a strong midfield to draw the defense up often leaving Banks and Urick open in the hole.

New Jersey and Boston were statistically tight on shots [SOG – 31/21; SOFF 14/21] respectively. New Jersey was more effective on possession and moved the ball around. Boston had some spectacular one-man takes to goal, which also turned into costly offensive turnovers. New Jersey controlled the groundballs 37 to 29 while Jenkins did a good job against Corno splitting possession at the face-off x 17 to 18.

Boston scored the opening goal of the period. Fiore dished off to Poskay for a righty quick stick stickside high at 1:44 (1-0). New Jersey responded with two goals. Banks took the lefty turn around shot hitting upper 90 off a cross-goal pass from Haugen (1-1) at 3:49. Banks passed the ball from X to Hubbard who was cutting from up high. Banks beat his defender with the overhand sinking the left side pipe at 6:11 (2-1). Boston worked the ball around well and came back with two goals both assisted by Gill. Bucktooth scored his first goal of the day with a worm burner from up high (2-2) and Glading gave the Cannons the lead with the underhanded stickside hip shot (3-2).

Kevin Boland evened the scored for New Jersey with a goal off an assist from Harrison (3-3). Chazz Woodson worked the ball from X to get a step on his defender faking goalie Rob Scherr high and shooting low (4-3). Bucktooth added another goal with a lefty face dodge with the overhand shot going upper shelf (5-3). The Pride scored the last two goals of the period. Corno won the ensuing face-off launching the fast break, which left Banks open on the crease. Banks faked high and took the sidearm to the pipe (4-5). Scott Urick evened up the score with a lefty sidearm off a pass from Ben Grinnell (5-5).

Boston hit the board first in the second quarter scoring the first three goals. Gill drove the crease right handed finishing with a dive (6-5). Gill passed off to Christmas for the over-handed bouncer (7-5). Pride defender Ryan McClay was called for the illegal check giving Boston the EMO. The Cannons converted. Dave Evans passed to Bucktooth who had the hot trigger hand for the day going underhand for the top shelf (8-5). Boston’s taste for the lead was short-lived as New Jersey came back strong with five unanswered goals, two of which were two-pointers.

Boston’s defender Jamie Hanford was called for an illegal procedure. Boland cut the margin to two with his EMO-goal off an assist from Banks (6-8). Harrison passed to Urick who finished with a lefty worm burner going weakside pipe (7-8). New Jersey took the lead as Doneger sank a massive two-pointer from up top using the screen on Garrity (9-8). Ford found Banks down low who then clipped the weakside pipe off the lefty quick stick (10-8). Harrison punctuated the half with a two-pointer from Ford (12-8).

Boston scored the first three goals of the second half. Woodson, Poskay, and Mucciolo put the Cannons within striking range (11-12) just as Doneger extended the New Jersey lead by two with a laser of a shot (14-11). Haugen scored on the run going up high (15-11). Urick added another goal with a lefty bouncer off the pass from Haugen (16-11). Boston responded with a goal from Evans. Fiore found Evans cross goal open for the quick stick (12-16). Urick hit another hard bouncer that stuck high giving the Pride the 17-12 lead going into the fourth.

Both teams only combined for five goals during the fourth quarter with New Jersey outscoring Boston 3-2. Evans muscled his way into the hole from X going with the underhanded bouncer stickside hip (13-17). Bucktooth scored the last goal for the Cannons going with the bouncer (14-17). Harrison, Haugen, and Ford scored the last three goals of the game for the Pride. Harrison took the ball on the run and faked high and shot low with the overhand (18-14). Hubbard dished off to Haugen who moved Garrity and went nearside hip (19-14). The Cannons sent Garrity to double the ball giving the Pride an open look at net. Harrison passed to Ford from X for the easy shot.

Boston has not secured a seat in the playoffs (7-3) while the whin for New Jersey keeps the Pride alive for a possible playoff spot (4-6). The Cannons host the Bayhawks next Saturday at 19:00 while the Pride host the Lizards at 19:30.