Philadelphia Routs Baltimore 22-11 to Clinch Playoff Berth

[Sonny]

Philadelphia, PA (July 27, 2006) - After a long lightning delay, the game between the Philadelphia Barrage and Baltimore Bayhawks officially began at 8:53. The Barrage got off to a two-goal lead early in the first quarter with goals by Roy Colsey and Bobby Horsey. Baltimore came back to tie the game at two, with goals by Kevin Frew and Kyle Dixon. Colsey scored his second of the night to give the Barrage the lead. At 9:10 p.m., with 3:23 left on the game clock in the first quarter, the game was delayed again due to lightning.

At 10:07 p.m., both teams returned to the field and resumed the game. Baltimore scored the first goal three seconds in to play to tie the game. B.J. Prager scored his first of the night for the Barrage to end the first quarter, giving Philadelphia the lead. Mark Millon scored his first of the night for the Bayhawks, keeping the score tied at four. Colsey scored his third of the night, followed by a goal from Michael Springer. The score at the end of the first half was Philadelphia 6, Baltimore 4.

After a shortened halftime, rookie Bill McGlone scored 2:30 into the third, leaving the Bayhawks trailing by one. Philadelphia then went on a three-goal scoring run with two goals from Ryan Boyle and one from Justin Smith, giving Philadelphia a comfortable four-goal lead. McGlone scored his second of the night for Baltimore, but Boyle answered back with his third goal in the third quarter. Rookie Matt Ward scored for the Bayhawks, but Philadelphia came back with another three-goal run with goals by Jed Prossner and two from Prager. Mike Mollot scored his first for Baltimore but it wasn't enough, Paul Cantabene won the face off and ran into to score his first goal of the night, followed by Boyle's fourth goal of the quarter. Ward scored his second for the Bayhawks to end the third quarter.

Philadelphia led the game with a score of 15-10. Colsey opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter with his fourth goal of the night for the Barrage, followed by a goal from Matt Striebel, and Springer. Baltimore midfielder Brenden Healy scored his first of the night, moving them to 11. Striebel scored his second for Philadelphia, followed by another Boyle goal, Springer and Prager. Due to lightning, the game was ended with 2:22 left in the fourth quarter.

With the run, Philadelphia clinched their second ever playoff berth and will appear in the 2006 MLL Playoff in Los Angeles. Ryan Boyle was named the Bud Light MVP for the third time this season; with his nine point performance (5G, 4A).

Philadelphia completed their home schedule with a record of 5-1. Philadelphia will begin their final road trip of 2006 with a stop in Rochester on August 5. Face off is set for 2:00 p.m. at Paetec Park. The Barrage will conclude their 2006 regular against the Bayhawks on August 12. Face off is set for 7:00 p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium.