It’s a gloomy day for the cities of Rochester and Boston as their teams end their 2013 season campaigns in tonight’s match up against one another. To make things even drearier, this may be the last time Rochester will see its beloved team on the lacrosse field, possibly ever. With declining attendance, missing the playoffs three years in a row, and playing two “home” games in different states (Georgia & Florida) the Rattlers organization may be on the move once more.
Aside from that, this game will determine who will take home fifth place. Both squads enter the game 5-8 with the Rattlers taking home the first meeting in a 16-14 victory. Along with each squad dropping their previous matches, with Boston losing to Ohio and Rochester falling to Chesapeake. Heading into tonight, Boston leads the league in giving up shots and goals per game, while the Rattlers are ranked sixth in both shots and goals per game.
Ned Crotty is the point’s leader for the Rattlers and is sixteenth out of the top twenty-five scoring leaders in the league. Boston has four, with Paul Rabil third with 49, Mike Stone coming in at 17 with 30 points, followed by Matt Poskay and Kevin Buchanan who are numbers 19 and 20, both with 28 points.
It will be a back and forth game tonight. Both teams have shown they can play and fonder all in a matter of minutes. The biggest difference will be who can hold on to the ball and defense. The offenses can score, but also throw the ball away. Defensively, the Rattlers have a sounder unit compared to their opponents, who have more LSM’s than close defensemen playing. Goalies will have to bring their A game. John Galloway is fourth in the league with 139 goals against, seven two point goals, 159 saves giving him an average of .534 save percentage and letting up 11.85 goals per game. Jordan burke is last in the MLL, letting up 150 goals, eleven of which were two-pointers, making him average 14.20 goals per game. Burke has produced a .518 save percentage with 161 saves. Matt Streibel will have a field day with two point shots if he can get them, as he is in a four-way tie for first with five two-point goals this season.
The battle for fifth place will take place tonight at 7 P.M. at Harvard Stadium and can be caught live streaming on ESPN3.com.
