It was the calm before the storm tonight at Pepsi Arena as the Albany Attack looked down the field at the New York Saints during pregame practice. Tonights game served many purposes for Albany -- revenge of the overtime loss to the Saints earlier in the season in Long Island, maintaining the undefeated home win streak, and almost assuring themselves on a trip to the NLL post season. All three were accomplished, and in a big way, as Albany went on the Attack from the start in a 16-6 rout.

Albany jumped right out of the gate in the first quarter, shutting out the Saints defensively and scoring four goals. Albany would, quite simply, maintain the lead for the rest of the evening.

Goalie Rob Blasdell kept the Saints to six goals all night giving him a two week total of only thirteen goals allowed, two wins, one NLL Player of the Week Award, and two Game MVP awards. Look for Blasdell to be named Player of the Week again and an upcoming, perhaps unanimous, Player of the Month Award.

Rookie Phil Sanderson scored his first ever NLL goal of his career tonight on a superb play. The Saints were on the offensive five-on-four power play with only seconds left on a two-minute minor to Sanderson. A shot from the Saints on Blasdell was saved as Sanderson was released from the panlty box, setting him up for the perfect outlet pass breakaway. Sanderson went in with a quick fake to the left and buried the shot past the Saints goalie.

After the game, Sanderson said, "If I didnt make that one, I would've cut myself from the team."

The closest the Saints could muster all night was a four-goal deficit. But the Attack lived up to their name at home. The game played in front of 4,300 fans places the Attack at 5-3, a half-game back of the league-leading Buffalo Bandits. Tonights performers for the Attack were Darris Kilgour (two goals, four assists), who now only needs one more point to reach the 300 milestone, and Josh Sanderson (3+2) and Ted Dowling (2+3) each added five points. New York’s top performer of the night was Roy Colsey with two goals and two assists.

With the loss, the Saints have been eliminated from playoff contention.

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
New York Saints (3-7)             0  5  0  1  --   6
Albany Attack (5-3)               4  5  5  2  --  16

NEW YORK SAINTS               ALBANY ATTACK
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS

Individual stats currently unavailable.

Shots on goal           45    Shots on goal           45
Saves made by           29    Saves made by           39
   Levis             21          Blasdell          39
   LoCascio           8


*** ALL STATS UNOFFICIAL UNTIL VERIFIED ***