Here are some notes for those fans who will be watching the New York Lizards (1-0) take on the Chesapeake Bayhawks (1-0) in Major League Lacrosse action on Saturday, May 4.
Greg Gurenlian. Photo by: Stacy Podelski/1495 Sports
Welcome Mark Matthews:
Mark Matthews will now join the Lizards roster for the 2013 season. Matthews was a part of the Edmonton Rush National Lacrosse League (NLL) Playoff push. Mark was picked-up by New York in the 2013 Major League Lacrosse Collegiate Draft through a trade that gave Denver Will Mangan and a fourth round draft pick.
Milestones to watch for:
Stephen Peyser needs one two-point goal to take sole possession of the number one spot on the Lizards career two-point goals list.
Stephen Berger is 74 shots away from taking over Tim Gottelmann’s record of the most shots taken as a Lizard.
With three more face-off victories Greg Gurenlian passes Doug Shanahan and takes over the number seven spot of most face-off victories in MLL.
Palasek named Game Most Valuable Player on 4/28
Tommy Palasek opened up his second season with the team with a hat-trick and two assist in the Lizards Opening Day victory over Boston on 4/28. Palasek’s five-point performance earned him the Lizards first game MVP recognition of the season.
College Draftees finishing up 2013 strong:
Rob Pannell (Cornell) broke the Ivy League all-time point’s record, scoring his 317th career point against Brown on April 20. Pannell currently ranks third on the all-time NCAA points list and is 26 points away from breaking Zach Greer and Matt Danowski’s record of 353 points.
As of May 2, three Lizards draftees in JoJo Marasco (Syracuse-17g, 30a), Pannell (34g, 41a) and Jeff Tundo (Stony Brook-32g, 23a) will finish their respective seasons with at least 45 points scored.
Steve Waldeck making an impact on D:
Steve Waldeck, who was acquired by the Lizards through a trade at the MLL Collegiate Draft made an immediate impact on the defensive end of the ball in the team’s home opener against the Boston Cannons on 4/28. Waldeck scored two goals in the game, one of which was a two-point goal has matched his season-total from 2012 (2g).
Gurenlian named Warrior Defensive Player of the Week:
Face-off specialist Greg Gurenlian went 21-28 for the Lizards in the home opener against the Cannons. Thanks to his fine play Gurenlian was named Week One Warrior Defensive Player of the week by MLL Commissioner David Gross.
Vito DeMola makes Impact in Lizards Debut:
In his first game in the MLL, rookie Vito DeMola scored two unassisted goals against the Cannons. DeMola also added one ground ball in his debut game for New York.
The Lizards and the Bayhawks game is set to air tomorrow on the ESPN 3 and MSG Plus network, with face-off scheduled for 7:00 p.m.