What do you get when a put a team with nothing to loose against a team battling for the final playoff spot, an exciting game. The game set a new league record for the most 2 pointers scored in one game with a total of 7 (5 from Boston and 2 from Bridgeport.) Bridgeport sealed its second win of the season and its first conference win 19-17 over the Cannons in front of 3,773 at Lowell. Led by midfielder Roy Colsey (6 points, 2 from behind the arc) and attackman Tom Kessler (4 goals) the Barrage never trailed and proved to the league that even the bottom of the barrel has game. Tom Kessler was recently acquired for the Bayhawks along with long pole Rob Doerr in exchange for their d-man and face-off specialist Jamie Hanford. Mike Regan (5 goals, 1 assist) and Scott Doyle who scored all 6 points from 2-point land picking up the offensive slack for Boston.

Syracuse has always been known for producing go-to guys and Bridgeport was lucky enough to have one of them on their roster. Roy Colsey, who was on the reserve list during their last bludgeoning from the Cannons 22-13, was Bridgeport’s go-to guy today, like the old days as an Orangeman. Colsey rang the bell first for the Barrage finding the back of the net on an ISO beating O’Brien with a low skipper on the run. Denihan scored the second goal of the game for the Barrage at the 7:01 mark from fellow attackman and Hopkins Blue Jay Matt Panetta. Panetta dumped the ball to Denihan after drawing the 1 slide from the crease leaving Dan enough time to throw the Boston keeper 2 fakes before shooting high. Boston’s trouble on offense was clearly displayed in the first, forcing shots past a stingy Bridgeport defense. The Cannons were only able to put one goal past Spruyt in the 1st quarter. Mike Regan scored with 5:56 remaining on the run lefty with a shot that hummed off Spruyt’s left shoulder. The Barrage continued to produce on offense scoring 3 straight goals and gave them a 5-1 lead into the 2nd quarter. Colsey scored his 2nd goal of the game with another shot on the run ripping an underhand shot high past the Boston goalie. Tom Kessler scored his 1st goal of the game unassisted beating his man from X then gave O’Brien a fake that would bring a blind man to his knees before tossing it through his 5-hole. Todd Eichelberger ended the 1st quarter scoring for the Barrage with 4 seconds remaining. Off a Mark Spruyt save, Matt Alexander was found wide open on the 50 who legged it up field for a fastbreak. Matt found Todd wide open on the leftside of the cage who gave former Hoya keep a high fake before going low.

Tom Kessler christened the net for the Barrage in the 2nd quarter. Denihan found Kessler open with a floater over the hole gave O’Brien a quick shoulder fake before going low. Boston finally got the gears rolling scoring 3 goals one EMO to bring them with in two 4-6. Steve Dusseau began the scoring run with an outside shot low past Spruyt. Conor Gill scored his only game of the contest on an EMO. Running the man-up from X, Gill was able to get an inside step on his defender for a righty backhanded dive through the crease. Battista followed Gill up about a minute later beating his man from up top. Mike first gave his defender a little shake n’ bake and then with his wheels went straight to the cage ripping an overhand shot to the stickside upper 90. Just as soon as the Cannons tried to change the tides, the Barrage responded with a three-goal spurt of their own. Denihan used his large 6 foot 216 lb frame to draw the crease d-man as he went to the cage. With his exceptional vision and instinct Dan was able to find Cromwell open on the crease for an un-contested goal. Shortly after scoring Cromwell returned the favor to rookie BJ Prager, who was Princeton’s most recent touted finisher. Under a minute later, Kessler found the cage unassisted from X. Tom was able to turn the corner and effortlessly put one past O’Brien to give them back a 5 goal lead 9-4. While many of Cannons fans began to picture the Barrage running away with the game, Boston went straight at Spruyt with the high heat. Mike Regan showed everyone what a 106 mph shot looked like. The league leader for 2-point goals scored his seventh with a scorcher from the top of the arc. With less than 2 minutes remaining Bridgeport was called for an illegal procedure giving the Cannons a 30 second EMO opportunity. Boston quickly tossed the ball around the horn; finally rookie Scott Doyle had an open look from outside of the arc. Doyle fired a crank that snagged the upper left corner passed Spuryt stick and the sound of the ball tagging the taut corner sounded like the Cannon was shot before the goal. The Cannons were now down by one going into halftime the closest they have been to the Barrage since early in the first.

Bridgeport got the game rolling again at the 11:32 mark from Todd Eichelberger. Todd was able to get the keeper off his mark and sneak one in the cage by the nearside pipe. With the blink of an eye the Cannons tied the game at ten. Once again Boston flexed its muscles from outside. John Madigan stuck his 1st goal of the game from behind the arc. Denihan responded to give the Barrage back the lead with a bouncer that caught the Boston netminder off guard. 40 seconds later Langtry tacked another goal on for the Barrage with a solid over hand shot. On the 50, the Barrage had ex-Cannon Andy Towers facing off against Dave Jenkins. Towers had been controlling the draws all game and was a major contributing factor to the time of possession for the Bridgeport offense. The Barrage quickly had a 14-10 lead with a 2-pointer from Roy Colsey whose shot sailed from low to high. Regan came up with his 4th goal of the game with just under 7 minutes remaining in the quarter. It was only a matter of seconds before the Barrage responded. Matt Panetta found Jim Gonella open in the hole with enough time time to get a wick goal low. Boston shot for 80% in the 3rd quarter hitting rope on their last 2 shots. Doyle was able to score his second 2-pointer of the game from a look from Michael Watson. Wth 43 ticks left on the clock, Watson scored unassisted to bring the cannons within one,going into the final 15 minutes of the contest.

Roy Colsey was first to the light the board in the 4th draining a 2 pointer from 4 feet outside the arch. By 8:36 Bridgeport regained their 5-goal lead getting a goal on an EMO from Matt Panetta and Tom Kessler scored his 4th goal on what seemed like the glitch on the old NHL hockey on the Sega Genesis. Kessler was able to beat his man from X and make it to the hole with no slide from the coma on the Boston defense. The Cannons had no chance in the 4th, behind the Bud Light MVP of the game who made 9 saves in the last quarter. In the final quarter the Cannons took 19 shots to Bridgeport’s 8. Boston was able to connect with two of those one from Regan with seven minutes remaining and the final from Doyle on EMO for his 2-pointer hat trick with 26 seconds remain and bring the score to the final 19-17. Boston had one last chance after wining the ensuing face off, but David Evans took a shot from outside of the arc before they could get a man behind the cage, so the ball went to the keeper.

This coming week proves to be a big one for both teams. The Barrage seek to keep the wheels turning as they face the league leading Long Island Lizards. On the platter for the Cannons is a matchup again the New Jersey Pride who lost to the Rattlers 13-12. The Pride loss means that Boston is 2 now games behind Rochester in the hunt for the final playoff slot.