ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Attackman John Grant, Jr. scored seven goals and added three assists to set the Major League Lacrosse single-season points record as the Rochester Rattlers (9-3) ended the regular season with their ninth win in the last ten games, a 20-10 victory over the Boston Cannons (5-7) at PAETEC Park on Saturday evening.
Grant, who was named as the Bud Light MVP for the third time this season, ended the season with 71 points, eclipsing the previous league record of 70 points, which was set by Rochester attackman Casey Powell in 2003.
The Cannons took a 2-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game as attackman Mikey Powell and midfielder Tom Zummo posted unassisted goals. Casey Powell and midfielder Joe Walters tied the game for the Rattlers with back-to-back markers in a 41-second span.
Midfielders D.J. Andrzejewski and Kevin Dougherty regained the Cannons' two-goal lead with back-to-back goals before the Rattlers went on a ten-goal run over a 20-minute span to gain a 12-4 lead at the intermission. Grant, Casey Powell and attackman Jeff Zywicki combined for nine of the ten goals during the run.
Midfielder Chris Mucciolo ended the Rochester run in the third quarter with a goal off an assist from midfielder Ben DeFelice, which was followed by a goal from midfielder Paul Gillette just 21 seconds later. With 11:04 left in the third quarter, Mikey Powell scored his second goal of the game, an unassisted marker to narrow the deficit to 12-7.
Rochester countered with a four-goal run to increase its advantage to 16-7 as Casey Powell and Grant each scored a pair of goals. After a goal from Joe Kostolansky, the Rattlers added two more goals for an 18-8 cushion. Mikey Powell tallied a power-play goal with 52 seconds left in the stanza.
Dougherty scored with 10:53 remaining in the fourth quarter before Grant converted a pass from Zywicki for his seventh goal of the game, which set the points mark. Rookie midfielder Andrew Spack added an unassisted goal with 2:30 remaining.
While Grant led all players with ten points, Casey Powell added six goals and two assists for the Rattlers. Zywicki posted a three-goal, two-assist effort.
Mikey Powell led Boston in the loss with three goals.
Boston (5-7) 4-0-5-1 / 10
Rochester (9-3) 7-5-6-2 / 20
Goals:
BOS – Mikey Powell 3, Kevin Dougherty 2, Chris Mucciolo 1, Tom Zummo 1, Paul Gillette 1, Joe Kostolansky 1, D.J.
Andrzejewski 1.
ROC – John Grant, Jr. 7, Casey Powell 6, Jeff Zywicki 3, Pat Dutton 2, Joe Walters 1, Andrew Spack 1.
Assists:
BOS – Ben DeFelice 2, John Christmas 1, Chris Mucciolo 1, Tom Zummo 1.
ROC – John Grant, Jr. 3, Jeff Zywicki 2, Casey Powell 2, Brandon Spillett 2, Joe Walters 1, Pat Dutton 1, Brodie Merrill 1.
Saves:
BOS – Jake Coon 6 (30:00, 12 goals allowed), Kip Turner 10 (30:00, 8 goals allowed).
ROC – Mike Levin 15 (60:00, 10 goals allowed).
Attendance: 5,759
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 9:16 am