The New Jersey Storm gave its opening-night crowd of 7,634 fans plenty to be excited about in the first twenty minutes of play, jumping to a quick 7-3 lead, but the visiting New York Saints had other plans for the evening, scoring 11 of the last 13 goals of the game for a 14-9 victory Friday night at Continental Airlines Arena.

The Storm got out to a quick start, with a goal just thirty seconds in, from Cam Bomberry, getting the crowd into the game. A parade to the penalty box then ensued, with six penalties being assed over the next two and a half minutes, including fighting majors to Rusty Kruger and Blake Miller.

Neither team capitalized on the power play, but the Storm was able to light the lamp shorthanded with a goal by Travis Kilgour. Roy Colsey scored twice for the Saints, but he was answered each time, first by Bomberry and then by Matt Panetta. The Storm went up 5-2 with about five minutes to go in the first on a strike by Miller, which the Saints answered a minute later by a goal that was announced to the crowd as scored by Clayton Bergie. This feat would've surpassed even Pat O'Toole's goal in Ottawa last year, since not only is Bergie a goaltender, he wasn't even on the floor at the time of the goal (officially, though, the goal was credited to Colsey, finishing a first quarter hat trick).

When the Storm scored twice in the first six minutes of the second quarter, the Saints appeared on the ropes. They were down 7-3, and were being outplayed by New Jersey. Colsey scored his fourth of the night to close the score to 7-4 at 7:52 of the second, and the Saints wouldn't look back. Goals by Kris Bryde, Kruger, Gavin Prout and Jonas Derks were sandwiched around the lone remaining first-half goal for the Storm, by Clayton Barnes, and the Saints reached halftime with an 8-8 tie and the momentum totally on their side.

Dallas Squire scored three minutes into the third period to restore the Storm's lead, giving fans hope that the Storm would turn the tide back in their favor. It was not to be, however, as Squire's goal would be the final goal that Gee Nash would allow. Kruger tied it at nine only 45 seconds later, then Prout scored twice in a minute later in the third to give the Saints the lead for good. In the fourth, Brian Spallina scored early, Colsey finished his five-goal evening halfway through, and Kruger finished the scoring late for the 14-9 Saints victory.

The Storm continue their search for a victory Saturday night in Columbus, while the Saints will take their 1-0 record home to meet the stuggling Calgary Roughnecks next Saturday.

BOX SUMMARY
                                      1  2  3  4     TOT
New York Saints (1-0)                 3  5  3  3  --  14
New Jersey Storm (0-2)                5  3  1  0  --   9

NEW YORK SAINTS               NEW JERSEY STORM
               G - A   PTS                   G - A   PTS
Colsey         5 - 2     7    T Kilgour      2 - 1     3
Prout          3 - 2     5    Ca Bomberry    2 - 0     2
Kruger         3 - 0     3    Barnes         1 - 1     2
Derks          1 - 1     2    Hanford        1 - 0     1
K Bryde        1 - 0     1    Miller         1 - 0     1
Spallina       1 - 0     1    Panetta        1 - 0     1
Black          0 - 1     1    D Squire       1 - 0     1
                              Sombrotto      0 - 1     1

Shots on goal           54    Shots on goal           55
Saves made by           46    Saves made by           40
   Nash              46          General           40
Penalties               14    Penalties                9
Penalty Minutes         33    Penalty Minutes         24
Power Play Chances       7    Power Play Chances       9
Power Play Goals         2    Power Play Goals         3
   Colsey             1          Ca Bomberry        1
   Kruger             1          T Kilgour          1
                                 D Squire           1
Shorthanded Goals        0    Shorthanded Goals        0
Loose Balls             56    Loose Balls             61
   McCabe             8          Lefeuvre          14
   Self               8          General            8
   Black              6          Hanford            8
   Derks              6          Stewart            8
Faceoffs Won            16    Faceoffs Won            11
   Ghedina      (16- 9)          Hanford      (11-16)
   Prout        ( 0- 2)

 *** STATS OFFICIAL BY VERIFY WITH NEW JERSEY STORM ***