NATS VISIT RATS AT 'THE DOG' TONIGHT

6/10/11 12:00 AM

(Hamilton, June 10)... The Hamilton Nationals will play the Rochester Rattlers tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Sahlen’s Stadium. The game will be shown live on ESPN. The teams enter the game tied for fifth in the MLL with 0-2 records. It is the first of three games between the two clubs in 15 days.

Download Game Notes: Click here for a PDF Version of the game notes.

Hamilton Notes: After a 22-day break in the schedule, the Nationals hit the turf again. This time they will play the Rochester Rattlers for the first time in history. The Rattlers returned to the MLL this season after taking a two-year hiatus. The teams will meet three times in the two weeks. The Nationals are 0-2 after a 14-10 loss to the Chesapeake Bayhawks on May 19th. Garrett Billings (three goals) and John Grant Jr. (three assists) led the Hamilton offense. Attackman Jeremy Boltus was named the MLL Cascade Rookie of the Week after scoring two goals in the home opener. The game also marked the professional debut of Nationals’ first overall pick Kevin Crowley and Adam Rand from Stony Brook. Hall leads the team with four goals.

Back in familiar territory: Seven players from the Rattlers’ 2008 championship team will return to the Rochester stadium for the first time in three years. Grant Jr., Hall, Brett Bucktooth, Brett Queener, Sol Bliss, Brodie Merrill and Joe Walters are back in Rochester with the Nationals.

Nats add five collegians: Stephen Keogh and Jeremy Thompson of Syracuse, and David Earl and Kevin Ridgway of Notre Dame have signed with the MLL. Dan Burns, fresh off a trip to the NCAA Finals with Maryland, also signed with the MLL.

Way to go Joe: Nationals’ goalie Joe Marra leads the MLL with a 7.11 goals-against average and a .692 save percentage.

Rattlers Notes: Rochester also enters the game looking for its first win of the season after suffering losses to Long Island and Chesapeake. Rochester dropped a 13-9 decision to the Lizards in its home opener on Saturday, May 21st. Martin Cahill led the Rattlers with four goals. It was their first home game since August 1, 2008. 2010 MLL Rookie of the Year Ned Crotty leads the team with seven points (5+2), while Cahill is second with five goals. Last Thursday, the Rattlers signed Webster native and Maryland standout Grant Catalino.

Adding a little Orange: On Friday, both teams could have members of the 2011 Syracuse University lacrosse team in their lineups. Jeremy Thompson and Stephen Keogh of the Nationals have signed with the MLL. Meanwhile, John Galloway, Jovan Miller and Joel White of the Rattlers have agreed to deals with the MLL.

World Beaters: Brodie Merrill, Matt Vinc, John Grant Jr., Jordan Hall, Dan Dawson, Stephan Leblanc, Kyle Rubisch and Jon Sullivan, along with Athletic Trainer Steve Lobsinger, celebrated winning the 2011 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships in Prague on May 28th. Vinc was awarded the tournament’s Top Goalie and an All-World Selection. He also was named the Championship Game MVP in a 13-6 victory over the Iroquois Nationals. Dawson was also honored for his play for Team Canada, earning All-World accolades and the tournament’s top forward. Additionally, Rubisch was named one of the top two defensemen of the WILC. Meanwhile, Nats’ Cody Jamieson, Brett Bucktooth and Sid Smith were awarded silver medals. Jamieson was selected as the Transition Player of the event and an All-World choice. Smith was named the Top Defenseman and All-World. Further, Nats’ Manager of Communications Craig Rybczynski received a bronze with Team USA.

Next Game: The Nationals will host the Denver Outlaws at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 18th at McMaster University’s Ron Joyce Stadium. The game will be shown live on ESPN3.com.

05/04	7:00PM EST	@	(W) 8 - 15
05/11	7:00PM EST	vs	(W) 12 - 11
05/17	11:00AM EST	vs	(W) 16 - 15
05/23	7:30PM EST	@	(W) 9 - 16
06/01	7:30PM EST	@
06/08	8:00PM EST	@
06/13	7:00PM EST	@
06/22	7:00PM EST	vs
06/29	7:00PM EST	vs
07/07	3:00PM EST	@
07/20	7:30PM EST	vs
07/27	7:00PM EST	vs
08/03	7:00PM EST	@
08/10	3:00PM EST	vs

NATS VISIT RATS AT 'THE DOG' TONIGHT

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