Today, lacrosse fans will get to see who will win the Battle of New York as the Lizards take on the Rattlers at Sahlen’s Stadium in Rochester. Both teams are five games back and stand at 3-5 with the Lizards one spot above the Rattlers.
This is the first meeting between the two squads in 2013, as the two split their matches in 2012 1-1. Rochester has an edge over New York in a few categories offensively. In shots on goal, the gold and black lead 201-185, with an 85-82 lead in goals for. One area that the Lizards have advantage in is face-offs with Greg Gurenlian dominating the X and giving his team a .621 boost compared to the Rattlers .455.
Rochester’s Ned Crotty will be the biggest threat at attack for his team, splitting his 20 points evenly with ten goals and ten assists. The Leveille brothers, who have combined for 19 points with 12 goals and seven assists, will accompany him. Midfield will be their overall weapon, with the likes of Matt Striebel, John Ranagan, Jordan Macintosh and Rob Rotanz. Striebel leads the midfielders with 17 points, followed by Macintosh’s 14 and Ranagan’s and Rotanz’s ten a piece.
Rookie Rob Pannell has made a huge impact for his team since joining the Lizards with 16 points in four games. He is second on the points list behind second year player Tommy Palasek, who has nabbed 14 goals and four assists. Mark Matthews completes the attack trio, bringing 14 points with him into today’s game. The Stephen’s (Peyser and Berger are the top midfielders point wise for New York with a combined 22 points. David Earl, another rookie, has been sensational at the midfield, scooping up 18 groundballs and tallying eight points. In his three games played, Max Seibald has picked up six points and hasn’t let his foot slow him down one bit. Matt Gibson has been inverting with Mark Matthews every other quarter between midfield and attack. After an astonishing rookie campaign, Gibson has been quiet so far in 2013, acquiring only eight points in five games. The inverting with Matthews may be playing a factor.
Transition will play a big role with these two squads. The defensive midfielders will have a busy day between the lines. The Unterstein brothers will perform as the always do, giving their assignment not one inch of room to breathe. While CJ Costabile takes on his opponent, most likely Ranagan, with the long pole. Rochester’s Joel White will have a huge impact in this game, as his assignment will have the toughest pole to go up against and he can make transitional threats. Steve DeNapoli and Dan Groot will probably draw Berger and Earl and will give them a headache. Close defense for both teams has been shaky. Whichever team buckles down today on close will more than likely come out victorious.
It will be a battle of the goalies today, as two young guns will go at it in New York’s Drew Adams and Rochester’s John Galloway. Adams has a save percentage at .547 with 116 saves total and is averaging 12.05 goals against. Galloway has only let up 85 goals, averaging 12.60 a game, while making 105 saves giving him a .553 save percentage. He has also let up five two point goals compared to Adams’ four. These two are pretty even stat wise, with Drew having one more game under his belt, and will give fans a show between the pipes.
Game time is set for 3 p.m. today and viewers can catch it on CBS Sports Network.
