Game brief
(Boston, MA) The success of the Boston franchise reflects the native sports culture very well. The Cannons relied on the horsepower and kick of a local-flavored stew including a heavy pair of Minuteman aces (five alums + a Newton favorite on the roster) and the 5,687 fans including a young fan base pooled from a well-choreographed rotation of pee-wee games all spiked by the stimulating influence of the all imperial Starbucks tent. After a semi-even start, the compounded second-half quarterly effect of the Cannons assault overcame 2004 tournament MVP Greg Cattrano. Game MVP Kevin Leveille put on a clinic with 7 goals 1 assist.

Game details
The awaited match up between keepers Greg Cattrano (Long Island) and Chris Garrity (Boston) lived up to the billing in the first half despite the shot selection on both ends of the field. Long Island out shot Boston 16-15 in the first period while Boston out-scored their guests 3-2. The UMass connection between Boston’s Chris Fiore and Kevin Leveille was the high light of the evening. Fiore played the role of the playmaker while Leveille was always magically free and painfully effective on the crease.

Both teams traded possession in the first two minutes with a shaky start. Long Island’s Jay Jalbert beat the slide high and got the lower right corner at 2:00 (1-0). The Lizard’s continued to wrap the ball around quickly when Goettelmann skipped the pass and found Panetta up high for another low right shot at 3:37 (2-0).

Lefty Cattrano challenged the Boston offense coming up with some killer high right saves until Leveille snagged the loose ball rebound in the air and show low (1-2) at 4:33. Leveille converted again going high right and evening up the score at two a piece. Passavia wrapped up the first period scoring with a long stick goal of the faceoff beating the defense and going low right corner (3-2).

The second period both teams were neck in neck with each squad scoring 5 goals off of 12 shots a piece. Millon scored his first goal of the game off a lefty low right shot under a minute into the period (4-2). Rotelli followed up with a goal starting on X and holding the ball for a few seconds before getting Cattrano in the dimehole (5-2). Lizard’s Haugen responded with a nasty rip that hit top right shelf at 3:17 (3-5). Team mate McDermott got Garrity on his left side hip bringing the Lizards within one (4-5). Conor Gill responded with his Hoo move on the crease with the diving dip and dunk on the crease at 5:46 (6-4).

Long Island responded with two goals one from Berger and another from Haugen tying up the game at 6-6. Fiore and Gill answer back with a pair of goals to extend the Cannons’ lead once more 8-6. Long Island’s Massey made it a thrilling a finish with a goal at the buzzer going left to right on the crease and taking Garrity upper 90 (7-8).

Boston edged out Long Island 4-3 in the third and each team shot 10-11 respectively. Long Island was only able to convert 1 of their 5 EMO while Boston was 2 for 3. MA native Mike Battista opened the third period with a two point who off the screens up high going high past Cattrano’s stick side (10-7). Long Island responded with a goal from Massey at 3:14 (8-10). Leveille scored on a power play off an assist from Gill (11-8). Leveille scored again unmarked and inside as Fiore baited the D up high on a fake and dished off to Leveille (12-8). Jay Jalbert responded for the Lizards with a nasty rip that hit top left corner logging in a much needed two points (10-12).

The fourth period was the most prolific for both teams Boston outscoring Long Island 8-4 off of 11-10 shots respectively. Long Island was first to score of a goal from Goettelmann (11-12). Boston responded with goals from Battista and Rotelli (14-11). Panetta brought Long Island within two with an underhanded flip that went past Garrity’s right hip at 6:17 which signaled four unanswered Boston goals. Leveille notched a casual hat trick (12-17) while Rotelli scored off of X extending Boston’s lead 18-12. Jalbert scored off and outside riser for 13-18. Millon scored off an assist from Leveille. Miller scored on a wide-open look for Long Island 14-19 but it was too little a little too late. Fiore capped off the scoring bonanza with a nice dodge up high hitting upper 90 on a low to high crank. Final score Boston20 Long Island 14.

The talent and firepower of the Boston troupe are undeniable however the change in line up from last year most notably with the absence of Watson and the addition of Millon was underscored by the performance of Boston’s latest marquis addition. The offense at times seemed to organize under a different set of chemical guidelines compared to last season’s offense where Gill started on X. With a 4-0 record, there isn’t much room for error but come July 16 when Boston will meet a very tough Baltimore who will match up against Gait?

Long Island will host Philadelphia next weekend while Boston will meet NJ at Nickerson.

Boston Cannons vs. Long Island Lizards

Boston Cannons

20

Scoring
Kevin Leveille	(7, 1)
Chris Rotelli	(3, 1)
Chris Fiore	(2, 2)
Conor Gill	(2, 2)
Mike Battista	(3, 0)
Mark Millon	(2, 0)
Ronnie Staines	(0, 1)
David Jenkins	(0, 1)
Tim Byrnes	(0, 1)
Chris Passavia	(1, 0)

Saves
Chris Garrity	19 (0.594)

Current Record
Boston Cannons	4-0

Long Island Lizards

14

Scoring
Jay Jalbert	(4, 1)
Tim Goettelmann	(1, 2)
Chris Massey	(2, 1)
Matt Panetta	(2, 0)
Aj Haugen	(2, 0)
Blake Miller	(1, 0)
Joseph Mcdermott	(1, 0)
Stephen Berger	(1, 0)
Tom Naglieri	(0, 1)

Saves
Greg Cattrano	14 (0.424)

Current Record
Long Island Lizards	2-2