The Barrage (7-4) will look to enter the postseason on a winning note when they finish the regular season with a trip to Hillsboro, Oregon to face the New Jersey Pride (5-6) Saturday evening. Faceoff is at 10:30 PM and will shown live on CN8.
History
The Barrage have won five straight in the all time series after their 16-11 win at New Jersey on July 10. Peter Trombino scored five goals that night to earn Game MVP honors. The win gave the Barrage a 7-8 all time record against the Pride, 7-2 since the Barrage relocated from Bridgeport, CT.
Last Week
The Barrage clinched their third straight playoff appearance (and fourth in five seasons) with a 16-11 victory over the Boston Cannons last Saturday at Harvard Stadium. Kevin Keenan, making the start in place of an ill Brian Dougherty, took Game MVP honors with a 27 save performance. Keenan, also named Goaltender of the Week, was aided by three goals from Ryan Boyle and Matt Striebel and a pair from Jed Prossner in his return from the injured list. New Jersey defeated Washington 16-8 on July 31 at Rutgers.
Playoffs
With their spot secured in the 2007 MLL postseason, the Barrage still need to find out where they will be seeded. A Barrage win and Los Angeles loss and the Barrage will earn the third seed while a Riptide win puts the Barrage fourth regardless of what they do vs. the Pride.
Stats and Stuff
With his three goals against Boston, Matt Striebel set a personal high for goals in a season. With 27 heading into the final game, he and Seth Goldberg (also with 27 goals) can become just the third and fourth Barrage players to score 30 goals in a season with hat tricks this weekend. Blake Miller holds the team record with 46 goals in the 2004 championship year while Matt Panetta tallied 33 in the teams inaugural season in 2001. Goldberg, with four goals, can equal his best of 31 set with Rochester in 2006. Kyle Sweeney (five goals this season) needs one goal to set a career high for himself as well.
Next Game
The Barrage will play either the Denver Outlaws or the Rochester Rattlers on August 23 in the MLL Semi-Finals.
