Scherr and NJ Defense Stop Lizards

[Sonny]

PISCATAWAY, NJ – For the first eight games of 2007, the New Jersey Pride hadn't hit a two-point goal. Against Long Island this weekend, it took them just over a half to nail three of them. Conor Ford, Kyle Harrison and Adam Doneger all hit from beyond the arc as New Jersey stopped the Long Island Lizards, 19-15, in front of 2,228 at Yurcak Field. Rob Scherr was named the Bud Light MVP, making 23 saves, allowing just 14 goals.

"From top to bottom we played a good game tonight," said Pride head coach Peter Jacobs. "I am very happy with Rob Scherr, as I've been all season. He's been a rock for us all year. He deserved that MVP honor tonight."

Ford ended the game with four goals, including a two pointer, and another assist for six points. Doneger added four points on two goals (one 2-pointer) and an assist and Harrison added a trio of points. "Offensively we moved the ball and the result showed it," Jacobs said. "You have to be happy any time you put up 19 goals."

Merrick Thomson added two goals for the Pride, the second and third of his career. Scott Urick also added two for the Pride.

"I think we're still in this," Jacobs said. "We just have to play loose and we'll be fine."

Ryan McClay continued to play well for the Pride, scooping up eight ground balls, and also tallied his first goal of the season. Thanks to a pair of two-pointers, New Jersey opened up a 5-3 lead after a quarter.

The lead dissolved after Austin Garrison hit for a pair of tallies sandwiched around a Tim Goettelman goal to give Long Island an early second quarter lead. Scott Urick tied the game at six with a nifty in tight goal at the 8:06 mark of the second quarter.

The Pride took a 9-7 lead after two quarters thanks back-to-back goals by Ford and Jesse Hubbard to close out the scoring in the first half. Hubbard's marker came when Lizards' goalie Nick Murtha was out of the goal, the second time this season that he and teammate Chris Unterstein have hooked up on such a tally.

The Pride got a tremendous offensive effort from players who hadn't been in the scoring column in a while in 2007, as Matt Rewkowski tallied in his first game back since June 2 after he was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

New Jersey had an explosive offensive third quarter, scoring nine points, a season high, compared with just five for the Lizards as the home team opened up an 18-12 lead. Adam Doneger and Merrick Thomson closed the scoring for New Jersey to give the Pride the six goal advantage.

Long Island (5-4) 3-4-5-3 / 15
New Jersey (3-6) 5-4-9-1 / 19

One-Point Goals:
LI - Tim Goettelmann 4, Stephen Berger 3, Chris Fiore 2, Austin Garrison 2, Peter Vlahakis 1, Mark Millon 1.
NJ - Conor Ford 3, Merrick Thomson 2, Scott Urick 2, Matt Rewkowski 1, Jesse Hubbard 1, Kyle Harrison 1, Chris Colliniates 1, Adam Doneger 1, Ryan McClay 1.

Two-Point Goals:
LI - Keith Cromwell 1.
NJ - Conor Ford 1, Kyle Harrison 1, Adam Doneger 1.

Assists:
LI - Stephen Berger 2, Keith Cromwell 1, Tim Goettelmann 1.
NJ - Chris Unterstein 2, Scott Urick 1, Adam Doneger 1, Conor Ford 1.

Saves:
LI - Nicholas Murtha 12 (45:00, 15 goals allowed), Matt McMonagle 5 (15:00, 1 goal allowed).
NJ - Rob Scherr 23 (60:00, 14 goals allowed).

Attendance: 2,228