U.S.A. Beats M.L.L. All Stars

(Boston, MA) Team USA looked good. The US National team sharpened their game with an 18-10 win over the MLL All-Stars in front of a record crowd of 9,234 at Nickerson Field. USA was effective on possession making the most of the clock and the ball. Good ball movement, unselfish play, and solid communication on defense gave Team USA a fourth-quarter edge over the MLL All-Stars who kept it competitive for much of the game until Team USA rattled off the game's last six goals. Both teams showed sharp eyes and quick hands in the cage. Bud Light MVP Kevin Cassese contributed four points, one goal, a two-point goal, and an assist.

A combined near 30-goal output for Team USA and the MLL All-Star Team is not surprising given the caliber and quantity of talent suited up for match. Both defensive units had their hands full and the challenge of decision-making that comes with one too many weapons on the field and off the bench. Most of Team Brine dressed in their sharp STX whites and contributed for 10 US ten points.

Team USA showed off a balanced attack with Michael Powell (3g, 1a), Roy Colsey (2g, 1a), Ryan Boyle (2g, 1a), Ryan Powell (1g), Paul Cantabene (1g), Matt Striebel (1g), Jay Jalbert (1g), Casey Powell (1g, 1a), Scott Urick (1g, 1a), Kevin Cassese (1g, 2 pt-g, 1a) scoring for the US squad. Kevin Leveille (2g), Chris Rotell (2g), Josh Sims (1g, 2pt-g), John Christmas (1g, 1a), Chris Fiore (1g), Adam Doneger (1g), Conor Gill (1a), Mike Law (1a), Mark Millon (2a) scored for the MLL All-Stars. The offensive theatrics continued during halftime with the Boston Cannons' Chris Fiore winning the fastest shot at 108 mph. Michael Powell won the freestyle competition with an acrobatic combo fake included, and Ryan Boyle won the accuracy contest which proved to be difficult for both teams.

The goalies each split time and contributed to the defensive effort of their respective teams. Chris Garrity (10 saves) and Trevor Tierney (5 saves) anchored Team USA while MLL All-Stars Greg Cattrano (9 saves) and Mike Levin (7 saves) weathered the front-line of the USA offense. The MLL squad raked 18 to the US' 12 face-offs and also beat the US winning 37 to the US' 27 grounders. Team USA out shot the MLL 34-25.

The US Team outscored the MLL All-Stars 6-2 in the first. Match ups included Casey Powell vs. Brian Spallina, Mike Powell vs. Chris Passavia, Millon vs. Polanco, and Gill vs. Gagliardi. Scott Urick and Jesse Hubbard rounded out the offense for the US team and the MLL All-Star team respectively. Rotelli scored the first goal of the game giving the MLL the 1-0 lead with a lefty bouncer off the give and go. Colsey banked the underhand shot off-hip at 8:42 off an assist from Cassese (1-1). Sims responded for the MLL with a low to high shot going upper right (2-1). Casey Powell converted on the EMO pulling Cattrano off the pipe and going weakside (2-2).

The US closed out the first period scoring with three unanswered goals. Miller beat his man around the crease for the one-handed maple-leaf hitting opposite pipe (3-2). Cassese hit a two-pointer from Haugen giving the US a 5-2 lead at :55. Colsey scored with the clock running out (:14) off a dish from Striebel catching the ball backside and releasing a shovel shot low to high off side (6-2).

The US team out scored the MLL squad 3-2 in the second. John Christmas, Sean Morris, and Kevin Leveille were on attack for the MLL with Polanco, Gagliardi, and McCabe as assignments (respectively). Doneger scored at 12:14 of a no look pass from Christmas (3-6). Miller scored on transition for the US off a pass from Colsey (7-3). Fiore scored with his signature overhand on the run shot finishing with a stickside bouncer (4-7). Urick scored on the draw and dump from Gagliardi at 2:41 (8-4). Cassese scored off a pass from Urick to conclude the first half scoring (9-4) giving Team USA a solid lead going into the second half.

The MLL team managed to out score Team USA 4-2 in the third and narrow the margin. Kevin Leveille scored in the first minute beating two men and hitting the stickside shot (5-9). Streibel counter-attacked with an overhand on the run (10-5). Leveille scored from X hitting the top shelf with the overhand (6-10). Boyle scored from Powell at 10:28 with a lefty shot across the body hitting opposite pipe (11-6). Christmas scored from Gill catching lefty, switching hands in the air, and finishing with a dive to cage (7-11). Rotelli cut down the gap to three with a goal from Law on a lefty side arm at :17 (8-11).

The MLL kept it close in the beginning of the fourth but could not contain the US' last scoring spree and dropped the final period 7-2. Team USA started the period with a bit of flash from the Powell brothers. Casey wrapped a behind the back pass to Ryan who finished with a behind the back goal (12-8). Sims responded with a two-pointer off a pass from Millon to close the gap to two goals (10-12). Unfortunately for the MLL All-Stars, the final score would not reflect a tight game as the US squad went on to score six consecutive goals.

Mike Powell converted on the quick-release goal off a pass from Boyle at 9:03 to give Team USA the 13-10 lead. Jalbert capitalized on an EMO-goal off an assist from Haugen (14-10). Mike Powell scored his second goal of the game (15-10) and face-off specialist Paul Cantabene notched at goal at 3:49 (16-10). Mike Powell and Boyle notched the last two goals of the game giving the US Team a convincing 18-10 win over the MLL All-Star team.

The US succeeded in warming up for the ILF World Championships and will travel to London, Ontario.


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U.S.A. Makes the Grade Beating M.L.L. All-Stars 18-10- Friday, July 7
(Boston, MA) Team USA looked good. The US National team sharpened their game with an 18-10 win over the MLL All-Stars in front of a record crowd of 9,234 at Nickerson Field. USA was effective on possession making the most of the clock and the ball. Good ball movement, unselfish play, and solid communication on defense gave Team USA a fourth-quarter edge over the MLL All-Stars who kept it competitive for much of the game until Team USA rattled off the game's last six goals. Both teams showed sharp eyes and quick hands in the cage. Bud Light MVP Kevin Cassese contributed four points, one goal, a two-point goal, and an assist. A combined near 30-goal output for Team USA and the MLL All-Star Team is not surprising given the caliber and quantity of talent suited up for match. Both defensive units had their hands full and the challenge of decision-making that comes with one too many weapons on the field and off the bench. Most of Team Brine dressed in their sharp STX whites and contributed for 10 US ten points. Team USA showed off a balanced attack with Michael Powell (3g, 1a), Roy Colsey (2g, 1a), Ryan Boyle (2g, 1a), Ryan Powell (1g), Paul Cantabene (1g), Matt Striebel (1g), Jay Jalbert (1g), Casey Powell (1g, 1a), Scott Urick (1g, 1a), Kevin Cassese (1g, 2 pt-g, 1a) scoring for the US squad. Kevin Leveille (2g), Chris Rotell (2g), Josh Sims (1g, 2pt-g), John Christmas (1g, 1a), Chris Fiore (1g), Adam Doneger (1g), Conor Gill (1a), Mike Law (1a), Mark Millon (2a) scored for the MLL All-Stars. The offensive theatrics continued during halftime with the Boston Cannons' Chris Fiore winning the fastest shot at 108 mph. Michael Powell won the freestyle competition with an acrobatic combo fake included, and Ryan Boyle won the accuracy contest which proved to be difficult for both teams. The goalies each split time and contributed to the defensive effort of their respective teams. Chris Garrity (10 saves) and Trevor Tierney (5 saves) anchored Team USA while MLL All-Stars Greg Cattrano (9 saves) and Mike Levin (7 saves) weathered the front-line of the USA offense. The MLL squad raked 18 to the US' 12 face-offs and also beat the US winning 37 to the US' 27 grounders. Team USA out shot the MLL 34-25. The US Team outscored the MLL All-Stars 6-2 in the first. Match ups included Casey Powell vs. Brian Spallina, Mike Powell vs. Chris Passavia, Millon vs. Polanco, and Gill vs. Gagliardi. Scott Urick and Jesse Hubbard rounded out the offense for the US team and the MLL All-Star team respectively. Rotelli scored the first goal of the game giving the MLL the 1-0 lead with a lefty bouncer off the give and go. Colsey banked the underhand shot off-hip at 8:42 off an assist from Cassese (1-1). Sims responded for the MLL with a low to high shot going upper right (2-1). Casey Powell converted on the EMO pulling Cattrano off the pipe and going weakside (2-2). The US closed out the first period scoring with three unanswered goals. Miller beat his man around the crease for the one-handed maple-leaf hitting opposite pipe (3-2). Cassese hit a two-pointer from Haugen giving the US a 5-2 lead at :55. Colsey scored with the clock running out (:14) off a dish from Striebel catching the ball backside and releasing a shovel shot low to high off side (6-2). The US team out scored the MLL squad 3-2 in the second. John Christmas, Sean Morris, and Kevin Leveille were on attack for the MLL with Polanco, Gagliardi, and McCabe as assignments (respectively). Doneger scored at 12:14 of a no look pass from Christmas (3-6). Miller scored on transition for the US off a pass from Colsey (7-3). Fiore scored with his signature overhand on the run shot finishing with a stickside bouncer (4-7). Urick scored on the draw and dump from Gagliardi at 2:41 (8-4). Cassese scored off a pass from Urick to conclude the first half scoring (9-4) giving Team USA a solid lead going into the second half. The MLL team managed to out score Team USA 4-2 in the third and narrow the margin. Kevin Leveille scored in the first minute beating two men and hitting the stickside shot (5-9). Streibel counter-attacked with an overhand on the run (10-5). Leveille scored from X hitting the top shelf with the overhand (6-10). Boyle scored from Powell at 10:28 with a lefty shot across the body hitting opposite pipe (11-6). Christmas scored from Gill catching lefty, switching hands in the air, and finishing with a dive to cage (7-11). Rotelli cut down the gap to three with a goal from Law on a lefty side arm at :17 (8-11). The MLL kept it close in the beginning of the fourth but could not contain the US' last scoring spree and dropped the final period 7-2. Team USA started the period with a bit of flash from the Powell brothers. Casey wrapped a behind the back pass to Ryan who finished with a behind the back goal (12-8). Sims responded with a two-pointer off a pass from Millon to close the gap to two goals (10-12). Unfortunately for the MLL All-Stars, the final score would not reflect a tight game as the US squad went on to score six consecutive goals. Mike Powell converted on the quick-release goal off a pass from Boyle at 9:03 to give Team USA the 13-10 lead. Jalbert capitalized on an EMO-goal off an assist from Haugen (14-10). Mike Powell scored his second goal of the game (15-10) and face-off specialist Paul Cantabene notched at goal at 3:49 (16-10). Mike Powell and Boyle notched the last two goals of the game giving the US Team a convincing 18-10 win over the MLL All-Star team. The US succeeded in warming up for the ILF World Championships and will travel to London, Ontario.