When it comes to balance, the Albany Attack looks like a precision scale. At least that's the way it worked out Friday night for the streaking National Lacrosse League team.

Four players contributed three goals apiece as Albany turned back the Syracuse Smash 17-6 for its fifth consecutive triumph in a match which was never really in doubt.

"We've made great strides," Attack coach Terry Sanderson said after his team tied a league record with its sixth victory for an expansion entry. "It's a maturity thing. We're just growing up."

Albany (6-3) is not only in the hunt for first place, it is now winning by impressive margins. The Attack defeated New York 16-6 in its previous game. Additionally, Albany improved significantly upon its original victory against the Smash when it needed two overtimes in Albany on 11 February for a 13-12 decision. That game launched Albany's current winning streak.

"We had nine rookies when we started the season," said Troy Cordingley. "It took us awhile to jell as a team."

Cordingley was one of the four Attack players to score three goals Friday. He also added three assists.

"It's good for my confidence, that's for sure," Cordingley said.

Albany's other three-goal producers were John Rosa, Gary Rosyski and Ted Dowling. Only Dowling of that bunch is accustomed to lighting up the scoreboard.

Dowling and Josh Sanderson often do the bulk of scoring.

"Every time they got the ball, they got beat up," Terry Sanderson said. "That's okay. Go ahead. It just means somebody else will be open. Given opportunities, the other guys are supposed to score."

Albany looked like it was going to run away with the match after jumping out to a 6-1 lead in the first quarter. But the Attack looked a little flat in the second when the Smash matched them (2-2) in goals.

"I think we got real full of ourselves after that first quarter," Sanderson said. "Maybe we lost sight of our game plan."

A locker-room chat at halftime seemed to correct the problem. Albany came out and scored four unanswered goals and cruised on in with the victory.

"I know it wasn't a great test," Sanderson said of the Smash which dropped to 0-9. "But I think we played as well as we can as a team."

Again, Albany's defense was superb.

"This is the best chemistry on a team I've seen in six or seven years," said Darris Kilgour who scored two goals and assisted on five more. "Any guy on this team would lay down to protect any other guy. I think, the way we're playing, we can go as far as we want in this league."

BOX SUMMARY
                                  1  2  3  4     TOT
Albany Attack (6-3)               5  2  6  4  --  17
Syracuse Smash (0-9)              1  2  1  2  --   6

ALBANY ATTACK                 SYRACUSE SMASH
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
John Rosa      3 - 4     7    Wilfong        3 - 1     4
D Kilgour      2 - 5     7    Halladay       0 - 4     4
Cordingley     3 - 3     6    Alexander      2 - 1     3
Dowling        3 - 3     6    Oudemool       0 - 3     3
Rosyski        3 - 2     5    Klodzen        1 - 1     2
J Sanderson    1 - 3     4    Morrissey      0 - 2     2
Fannell        0 - 3     3    Fay            1 - 0     1
Gibson         2 - 0     2    T Millon       0 - 1     1
Giles          1 - 1     2    Seremet        0 - 1     1
Blasdell       0 - 2     2
Beisel         0 - 1     1
Codd           0 - 1     1
Mutch          0 - 1     1
Woods          0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           65    Shots on goal           53
Saves made by           47    Saves made by           48
   Blasdell                      Cowie
   General                       Collins
Power Play Chances       8    Power Play Chances       7
Power Play Goals         3    Power Play Goals         1

*** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH ALBANY TIMES-UNION ***